POLICE have used new legislation to protect victims of domestic violence – within two days of it being made law.
Essex Police were given the power to issue domestic violence protection notices on Sunday.
The notices bar suspects entering homes of alleged victims and making contact with them.
Police were called to incidents in Castle Point and Basildon late on Saturday and early on Sunday following reports of domestic incidents.
In both cases the suspects were arrested and interviewed, but there was insufficient evidence to charge them with crimes. However, after assessing the circumstances, officers requested authorisation from a superintendent for notices to be issued in both cases.
Both cases went to magistrates’ courts yesterday. One man was banned from entering a property for 28 days, the other for 14.
Detective Inspector Nick Burston, of Essex Police public protection unit, said: “To have two authorisations within just over 24 hours of the legislation becoming live in Essex is very encouraging."
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