When any person reports an incident involving family violence, police must respond. Irrespective of whether you want them to or not, police have a duty to take action without your permission if they believe someone is in danger. This protection will include not only the people directly involved, but also anyone witnessing or exposed to family violence.

What will Police do?

Family Violence Safety Notice

If police believe immediate protection is necessary then police can issue a family violence safety notice. This notice will be in effect until the next court date and may include conditions that prevent the people involved from seeing and talking to each other.

It is a good idea to obtain legal advice at this stage.

Seek an Interim Intervention Order

Police can apply for an interim intervention order. This is an order that includes certain conditions you have to comply with until a magistrate can hear all the evidence and make a final decision.

Seek a Final Intervention Order

Police can apply to the court for a final intervention order against you even if the other party does not want one. If you have not already consulted a lawyer you should do to discuss how a final intervention order will impact your personal circumstances.

Important

If you do anything that is contrary to any condition of a family violence safety notice, an interim intervention order or a final intervention order police can arrest you and charge you with a criminal offence