New domestic violence legislation has yet to be put in place despite being passed through Parliament and signed by the Governor months ago.

But Labour, Home Affairs, and Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness said the Domestic Violence Protection Order and Stalking Acts should be law "in a few days''.

He was speaking after concerns over the delay of implementing the legislation were voiced to The Royal Gazette .

Women's Resource Centre lawyer Honor Desmond-Tetlow said: "We are still waiting. We're told that it will be very soon and we are very hopeful that it will be very soon.

"We are anxious to have it in place as the public's perception is that it is in place.'' Mrs. Desmond-Tetlow added that even Police officers believed it was in place as they had been sending people to get protection orders but this could not be done yet.

Mr. Edness explained that the delay was caused while administrative matters involving forms were sorted out. These had to be approved by the judiciary who would be dealing with them.

A draft was being prepared and would be signed shortly, he continued. "It should be law in a few days.'' The Domestic Violence Protection Order Bill passed through the House of Assembly in December.

However the Senate passed two amendments to the Bill -- one which was just technical but the other makes an offender pay for a victim's food, housing, medical or psychological care -- and it was returned to the House for further debate. It was passed in February without objection.

The Act broadens the scope of protected persons from married or formerly married to include those in "significant dating relationships''; increases the area of safety zones, under a Protection Order, to include home, work or place of education; increases the duration of a Protection Order from a maximum of three months to a maximum of 12 months; and includes psychological abuse as a type of abuse in addition to sexual and physical abuse. The Stalking Act also passed through Parliament in February and was expected to come into force in April but was delayed.

The Stalking Act makes stalking a civil and a criminal offence and victims can apply for protection orders.

The offence of stalking carries a maximum sentence of 12 months, a $2,000 fine or both.

The Act defines stalking as wilful and repeated actions that instilled fear in the victim that physical or mental harm may come to them or to any third party.