What protection is available for me through the courts?
Under domestic violence legislation, you can apply for protection through the courts.
These court orders include; Safety Order, Barring Order, Protection Order, Interim Barring Order and Emergency Barring Order.
Cuanlee provides practical and emotional support to those seeking court orders. This service is provided through the Outreach Social Work and Court Accompaniment services.
Safety Order: A safety order prohibits the abuser from carrying out further acts of intimidation, harassment, threats or violence. This also includes abusive communication or stalking using technology. With a safety order, the abuser can continue to remain in the home. A safety order can last up to 5 years. You can apply for a safety order if you are:
- Married or civil partners.
- In an intimate relationship (cohabiting or dating).
- Former partners.
- Parents with a child in common.
- Parents of an abusive child who is over 18 years old.
- Residing together in a non-contractual relationship, for example, two relatives living together.
Barring Order: A barring order requires the abuser to leave the home and prevents them from re-entering for the duration of the order. The abuser must not be near your home and they cannot watch, threaten, contact or be violent towards you. A barring order can last up to 3 years. You can apply for a barring order if you are:
- Married or civil partners
- Cohabitants who live in an intimate relationship (the person applying for the barring order must have equal or greater share in the property).
- Parents of an abusive, non-dependent child.
Protection Order: When you apply for a safety or barring order, you can also apply for a short-term order to protect you until the hearing for the safety or barring order. That short-term order is called a protection order. A protection order prevents the abuser from using or threatening to use violence, following, intimidating or abusively communicating with you.
Interim Barring Order: When you make an application for a barring order, you may also apply for an interim barring order to cover you until the barring order hearing. You can apply for this order if you or your dependents are at immediate risk. An interim barring order requires the abuser to leave the home immediately.
Emergency Barring Order: This order requires the abuser to leave the home immediately and prevents them from re-entering for the duration of the order. If you are applying for this order, you do not need to own, co-own or have your name on the lease of the property. An emergency barring order lasts up to 8 days and it prohibits the same behaviours as a barring order.