9. To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when the Government plan to bring into force section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. (261702)

Over the past 10 years we have transformed the way that the Criminal Justice System deals with domestic violence. Section 12 of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004 will extend the courts' powers under the criminal provisions of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 to enable them to impose restraining orders when sentencing for any offence or on acquittal. We are fully committed to implementation of section 12 in September 2009.