Domestic Abuse Awareness Month
October is domestic abuse awareness month. At David Gray Solicitors, we specialise in advising and representing clients who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse.
In the year ending March 2024, it is estimated 3.9 million people aged 16 and over were victims of domestic abuse (2.3 million women and 1.5 million men).
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, there are a number of ways we can help.
What is Domestic Abuse?
The term ‘domestic abuse’ includes any behaviour which is abusive, including but not limited to physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. It does not matter whether the behaviour is a single incident or a course of conduct.
What options are available to help those experiencing domestic abuse?
There are a number of options available to assist those in gaining protection when experiencing domestic abuse:
Non-Molestation Order
A Non-Molestation Order is a civil court order which prevents someone from acting in a certain way or doing a specific thing. For example, the order may state a person cannot be violent or threaten violence against someone, or that they cannot communicate or harass someone. The order can also include a zonal exclusion order, which prevents a person from entering a certain area (for example, a home or place of work). Non Molestation Orders can also include children where necessary.
The Court will make a Non-Molestation Order when it is satisfied that it is necessary to ensure the overall health, safety and wellbeing of a person.
A Non-Molestation Order is often applied for when somebody needs immediate protection from a partner or any person who has abused them. A Non-Molestation Order can be made without telling the person and can often by made the same day it is applied for.
It is a criminal offence for someone to breach the order, and the police can arrest the person if they breach the terms of the order. The order usually lasts for a specific period, usually between 6 and 12 months, but this can be renewed or extended in certain circumstances.
Occupation Order
An Occupation Order is a type of civil order which determines who can live in a property. It is also often used to exclude someone from a property.
Proceedings for an Occupation Order are usually complex, and we strongly recommend you obtain legal advice if you are considering making an application to Court. The Court will take into account a number of factors when looking at whether to make the order, such as the housing needs and resources of both parties, the financial resources of both parties, the conduct of each person in relation to the other, and the likely effect of any order or any decision of the Court not to make an order on the overall health, safety and wellbeing of each person and any child.
An Occupation Order is typically made for a specific period.
How David Gray Solicitors can help
At David Gray, we understand that experiencing domestic abuse can be very difficult, and that you may find it difficult to speak up and ask for help and support. Our domestic abuse solicitors have extensive experience in this area of family law and are based in Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields. We support victims of domestic abuse across the North East.
We also work with local support services to ensure that our clients have all the support they need.
We have an allocated injunction rota, which means that there will always be someone available to speak to you the same day we receive an enquiry.
Contact Us
Legal Aid is available for domestic abuse matters, if you need urgent advice regarding domestic abuse, please contact our family law team now on 0191 232 9547.
