A Protection Order is an order from the court telling an abuser to stop abusing someone. You can get a Protection Order against anyone who is abusing you and who is in some form of domestic relationship with you, for example, a parent or guardian; a husband or wife; a romantic partner. You cannot get a Protection Order against your employer or neighbour.

The Protection Order can also order:

• The police to take away any dangerous weapons from the abuser
• A police officer to go with the abused person to collect their things
• The abuser to move out of the home
• The abuser not to prevent the complainant from entering the common home
• The abuser to continue paying the rent or bond to provide housing for the complainant
• The abuser to pay money to help the person survive or for medical costs

Police may arrest an abuser who has disobeyed a Protection Order, using the warrant of arrest given at the same time that the Protection Order is given by the court, if the person that has been abused is in ‘imminent harm’. This is a problem, because the courts have not said what ‘imminent harm’ is and often the police are reluctant to arrest. They prefer to give the abuser a notice to come to court.