Domestic Abuse
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, it is important to know that help is available. Our specialist solicitors at DPP Law can guide you through protective legal measures such as Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders.
Domestic abuse can affect anyone from any background anywhere in the world. It can manifest itself in subtle ways but can also grow into a serious threat to physical or psychological health. Domestic abuse can include:
- Violence
- Intimidation
- Threats
- Controlling behaviour
- Sexual violence
- Coercive behaviour
- Emotional abuse
- Psychological abuse
The signs and symptoms of domestic abuse can be different in all situations but they generally surround power and control of one partner over another. This power can be gained through humiliation, coercion, threats of physical violence, actual physical violence and sexual violence or intimidation.
Control can be gained through insults, through isolating a partner from their family or friends, through one partner controlling the finances, through one partner preventing the other partner from getting a job and by using the children in the relationship to make the other partner feel guilty or force the other partner to stay.
A terrible part of domestic violence is the way it can make you blame yourself or make you think that you do not deserve help at all. However, you do and the law is there ready to protect you if you need it.
To help you do this, our sensitive and supportive expert domestic abuse solicitors are ready to use their years of experience to allow you to get away from an abusive relationship.
What is The Solution for Domestic Abuse?
Non-Molestation Order:
- A non-molestation order prevents an abuser from being violent or threatening violence against a former partner or their children
- Molestation can take the form of actual violence as well as actions such as nuisance phone calls or text messages
- Breach of this order is an arrestable criminal offence
- Punishment for breaching the order can be imprisonment, fines or both
Occupation Order:
- This order regulates who lives in the family home
- It can include getting the abuser to leave or allowing the applicant to enter and remain in the property
- The court will consider the harm suffered by the applicant or any children in the past and in the harm that may be suffered in the future if the order is not made
- The length of the order will depend on the needs of the applicant and any children who are living in the family home
Can I Get Legal Aid?
Legal Aid is available to you if you have been a victim of domestic abuse or you are seeking to protect a child through your legal proceedings. For more information, get in touch with us for a confidential chat with one of our expert sexual abuse and criminal defence solicitors.
Our family law solicitors can also help with:
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FAQs
Get legal advice immediately and do not attend a police interview without a solicitor. Avoid contact with the other party and follow any bail or protective conditions.
Yes. Police can arrest you based on a complaint and reasonable suspicion, even before gathering full evidence, especially where safety concerns exist.
Penalties range from fines and community orders to imprisonment. Courts may also impose restraining orders and other long-term restrictions.
Yes. Allegations can arise during relationship breakdowns or disputes, and some may be exaggerated or untrue. A solicitor can help challenge inconsistencies and gather supporting evidence.
It is a criminal offence involving repeated behaviour used to dominate, intimidate, isolate, or control a partner or ex-partner. It includes monitoring, threats, financial control, and restricting freedom.
Evidence can include statements, messages, call logs, photos, medical reports, police body-worn video, and witness accounts. Police can pursue a case even if the complainant later withdraws.