Guernsey domestic abuse law ahead of UK - police

Guernsey Police said they have used the new legislation to protect 17 islanders so far

Guernsey's new domestic abuse law has put the island ahead of UK legislation, police have said.

In the autumn of 2024, Guernsey politicians approved the Domestic Abuse Law (DAL), with it coming into force in June 2025 after it was given Royal Assent.

The new law introduces a new specific offence for domestic abuse, including coercive control and non-physical forms of abuse, and establish new protection orders for victims, which police said was "more powerful" than in the UK.

Previously, officers would have to look at other charges like assault or a sexual offence to try to bring perpetrators of domestic abuse to court.

The main difference between Guernsey's legislation and the UK's is the protection orders can last for up to two years locally, but only last for 28 days in the UK.

The way the law works locally is something UK forces are looking to move towards, say police.

Acting Supt Liam Johnson said: "It absolutely brings us up to the mark.

"In fact, some would say it takes us beyond the mark because the law that we've implemented is very specific to us here in Guernsey.

"It's used great examples from elsewhere like the UK, but actually in some areas it's more powerful, so we really are at the cutting edge of it here with this new legislation."

Acting Spt Liam Johnson added: "The other offences that were also introduced, which was around domestic abuse have really strengthened our ability to be able to look at the criminal aspect of these types of offences and really empower us to prevent further offending."

Nicole Thomas, Acting Det Insp in the Public Protection Unit, said: "It's all-encompassing under one title. Included in that is obviously coercive control, which we didn't have in Guernsey before.

"Then as a result of that we have the option to put pre-charge bail conditions on in order to keep victims safe from further offences, from any stalking harassment-like offences.

"If we haven't got sufficient [evidence] to take the matter to court, we can look at a domestic abuse protection notice."

Officers have received nine months of training and currently have put four people under domestic abuse protection orders.

This means they are unable to contact their alleged victims and are unable to go to their home addresses. If they break these conditions, then they could go to prison for up to five years.

Officers are also working with 13 alleged victims and are protecting them through bail conditions.

If these conditions end, the force can impose a domestic abuse protection notice that would enable them to prevent someone from having contact with their victim for 72 hours, until that person could appear at court and be given a protection order.