Union campaigning helps safeguard abuse victims

Union campaigning has helped secure workplace protection for domestic abuse victims that will help prevent abusive partners coming to victims’ workplaces.

The UNISON public services union helped win the key amendment that ensures domestic abuse protection orders (DAPOs) apply to the workplace.

This will appear in the Domestic Abuse Bill currently progressing through Parliament.

The new protection orders are set to replace domestic violence protection orders and are designed to prevent perpetrators of domestic abuse from harassing their victim.

An order will prevent perpetrators from entering the victim’s home or stop them coming within a specific distance of the home. They are designed to keep victims safe and give them some breathing space and the chance to access support services without interference from the perpetrator. These will now extend their coverage to victims’ workplaces.

UNISON national officer Josie Irwin said the union was delighted that the government had agreed to UNISON’s amendment to the Bill to extend protection orders to the workplace.

“It means more victims can be protected from harassment and threats at work,” she said. “It’s important recognition that home and work cannot always be neatly separated.”

Domestic abuse protection orders will also cover other locations, such as a place of worship or children’s schools.