How The Law Can Protect You?

The Police
In an emergency dial 999

The police can take action to protect you and your children. They may do this by arresting your partner, if they have the power to do so, and holding him for a short time (for example overnight)

• They may offer you immediate assistance by attending your home and possibly removing your abuser
• They may also make him subject to bail condition (whilst they investigate the matter further) such as not to contact your or come near you
• They may charge him with a criminal offence. The court may impose bail conditions similar to those outlined above
• If he is not charged, they may caution him or keep an informal record of the incident. This may be helpful if he abuses you again and you seek further Police assistance or an injunction
• Under the Protection of Harassment Act (1977) the criminal court may make a restraining order against the abuser

Court Orders
Court orders generally fall into two parts:

• Orders about the way your partner should behave in the future - 'non molestation orders'.
• Orders saying who has the right to live in the home - 'occupation orders'

Non-molestation orders
These orders tell your partner they must not use or threaten to use violence against you, or 'harass, pester or intimidate' you. This can also apply to any children living with you. The order is generally written in wider terms to stop all forms of unpleasant behaviour including, for example, threatening phone calls. It will also stop your partner getting someone else to harass you.

Occupation orders
If your partner's behaviour has been serious enough for them to be kept apart from you in order to protect you, then you will need an order saying who can live in the home.

An occupation order can order any number of the following:

• One partner to leave the home;
• One partner to let the other return to the home;
• One partner not to return to the home; or
• One partner to keep away from the home

The court can also make orders about:

• Who will repair and maintain the home;
• Who will pay the mortgage or rent and the other cost; and
• Who can use and care for things in the home.

Further information can also be found by visiting the following websites: 

• Women's Aid (Opens new window)
• Waterlow Legal (Opens new window)
• Crown Prosecution Service (Opens new window)
• Her Majesty's Courts Service (Opens new window)
• Community Legal Service (Opens new window)
• Law On The Web (Opens new window)

Freedom Programme
A programme for women - if you are a woman who has been abused by your partner in either the past or present - do you want to make sense of it?

What is it?
The Freedom Programme is a 12-week rolling programme. This means that you can join at any point - the benefits are the same as long as you complete 12 weeks.

Who is it for?
The Programme is open to any woman who wishes to learn more about the reality of domestic violence and abuse.

What are its aims?

• To help women to understand the beliefs held by abusive men and in doing so, recognise which of these belief they have shared.
• To illustrate the effects of domestic violence on children
• To assist women to recognise potential future abusers
• To help women gain self esteem and the confidence to improve the quality of their lives
  Introduce women to resources within the community such as Women's Aid, Rape Crisis, Social Services, The Police Domestic Violence Unit and the Citizen's Advice Bureau

To find out more about the Freedom Programme in South Bucks contact:

Freedom Programme Co-ordinator 07875 766394
Bucks Domestic Violence Co-ordinator 01296 383701