Home Secretary Alan Johnson announces new powers on domestic violence

Home Secretary Alan Johnson today issued a plea for disillusioned Labour supporters to come back to the party ahead of the coming General Election.

Mr Johnson said the contest would be a "fight for this country's future" and attacked the "born to rule arrogance" of the Tories.

He also announced new police powers to ban violent men from their own neighbourhoods to allow abused partners to seek help and support.

Mr Johnson said Labour had to "defend our record, explain our vision, display our unity" in the run-up to the election.

Labour had an "excellent record to defend" on crime, whereas the Tories had seen crime rise while they were in power and had opposed new measures proposed by the Government.

"They have the unenviable record of having failed on crime in government and in opposition.

"John Wayne in their rhetoric, Woody Allen in their actions."

Mr Johnson, frequently tipped as a possible successor to Gordon Brown, lavished praise on the Prime Minister.

He said: "I am enormously proud of our record over the last 12 years. In education, in health, tackling discrimination, establishing basic rights for working people, making our society safer, healthier and fairer.

"Gordon Brown has been integral to all of these achievements and he has led the way in addressing the biggest global economic and political challenges of our age.

"As we approach a General Election, we have to persuade the British public to do something they have never had the opportunity to contemplate before - to give a fourth term to a Labour Government.

"We need to persuade all those who have supported Labour in the past, perhaps even campaigned for Labour, but who became discouraged or disillusioned that now is the time to come back and join us because this coming political battle really is a fight for this country's future."

David Cameron's Tories promised an Age of Austerity and a "Notting Hill version of laissez faire", he warned.

Winning a standing ovation from the conference, Mr Johnson said the Tories' "born to rule arrogance, anti-European, anti-trade union, hostile to public services, throws its shadows across the difficult years ahead.

"Only Labour can resist its advance by persuading the British people that we remain united behind our leader, clear in our vision and worthy of their trust."

Outlining the new domestic violence measures, Mr Johnson said police often found themselves "powerless".

The new Domestic Violence Protection Orders, to be trialled in two areas, will apply for up to a fortnight in a bid to prevent women having to flee to emergency accommodation such as refuges.

Instead they would be offered help and advice by caseworkers on the options open to them if they left the relationship - including securing a longer-term injunction.

Mr Johnson said: "It was Labour that introduced specialist domestic violence courts, and we need to be proud of that, and helped put 720 fully trained independent domestic violence advisers in place.

"More arrests are being made and conviction rates are rising.

"But the police tell us they often find themselves powerless to stop the aggressor - in a domestic violence situation - from returning to the property straight away, putting the victim at risk of more violence.

"That has to change.

"That is why I am bringing forward measures to allow the police to issue Domestic Violence Prevention Orders to stop the aggressor from returning not just to the house but to the whole immediate area and forcing him to remain out of the vicinity for a set period.

"During this time, support will be provided for the victim including counselling and practical options for getting away from a violent partner."

Under the present law, only those arrested and charged with an offence can be barred - either through bail conditions or by the victim seeking an order in the civil courts.

In future, officers who did not have enough evidence to charge a suspect but believed a woman remained in danger would be able to seek a DVPO - citing evidence from neighbours, family and friends and any history of abuse.

Breaching the orders - which have been recommended by a review being carried out by Wiltshire Chief Constable Brian Moore and are based on an Austrian model - could lead to a prison sentence.

Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge, said: "These new orders will protect women from further risk of domestic violence if they are implemented effectively.

"We hope the Government will underpin these positive initiatives with the funding and training needed to ensure this and, in doing so, alter radically the number of women whose lives are blighted by domestic violence."