New rules on domestic violence are a positive step - as long as they are enforced

New laws introduced by the previous government are set to be trialled in Greater Manchester, Cleveland, London and Wales, before being introduced across the country.

The new protection orders will beef up existing laws to ensure the protection of people identified at being at risk, and can also be used to compel abusers to take positive steps such as attending anger-management courses.

Breaching the requirements will be punishable by jail, and in the most serious cases abusers can be tagged for up to 12 months to prevent further harm.

Friends and family of victims will also be able to apply for the orders reducing the pressure on victims themselves, who may be fearful of reporting abuse.

Obviously, there will need to be safeguards imposed to ensure that these new laws are not abused by malicious complaints, but hopefully the trial schemes will enable any such bugs to be ironed out. 

The real test, though, will come in the enforcement of the new legislation.

There are already numerous laws against domestic abuse, yet it is still though to have affected two million people last year. Many people will also recall the introduction of anti-social behaviour orders some 26 years ago, which looked good on paper but proved difficult to enforce.

The new laws will only work if sufficient resources - and manpower - are available to impose them. Not to mention the small matter of ensuring there are prison places for those who breach them.