Information for a Respondent in a Police Application

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• What is domestic violence?
• What does the court consider?
• Police Applications for DVOs
• Conditions of DVOs
• Court process and role in proceedings
• How can Robertson O’Gorman help?

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is:

• physical or sexual abuse
• emotional or psychological abuse
• economic abuse
• threatening behaviour
• coercive behaviour or
• behaviour that in any way controls or dominates or causes a person to fear for their personal safety or wellbeing by one person towards another person.

The ‘aggrieved’ is the person who needs protection from domestic violence, and the ‘respondent’ is the person from whom the aggrieved seeks protection.

What does the court consider?

There are three matters that the Court must be satisfied are answered by a domestic violence application:

1. Is there a relevant relationship between the aggrieved person and the respondent?
2. Has there been at least one act of domestic violence?
3. Is it necessary or desirable for the aggrieved to be protected?

What is a relevant relationship?

A relevant relationship is:

• An intimate personal relationship – spousal, engagement or couple;
• A family relationship – a relationship between two people if one of them is or was the relative of the other; or
• An informal care relationship – a relationship between two people if one of them is or was dependent on the other person for help in daily living.

Is it ‘necessary or desirable’ for the aggrieved to be protected?

In deciding whether to grant a DVO, the court must evaluate if it is necessary or desirable to protect the aggrieved, their children and any other people named in the application. The court will consider and assess:[1]

• The risk of future domestic violence between the parties if there was no order;
• The need to protect the aggrieved from that domestic violence if there was no order;
• Various principles contained in legislation, including:[2]
  • The safety, protection and wellbeing of people who fear or experience violence, including children are paramount;
  • People who fear or experience domestic violence should be treated with respect and disruption to their lives should be minimised; and
  • In circumstances in which there are conflicting allegations, for example in cross-applications, the person who is most in need of protection should be identified.
• Any previous DVO, and compliance or non-compliance by the respondent.

Police Applications for DVOs

Domestic violence orders (DVOs) are official documents issued by courts to stop threats or acts of domestic violence. The police can apply for a DVO if they attend a domestic violence incident, or if the aggrieved or a witness makes a statement at a police station, and the police reasonably believe that domestic violence has been committed.

The police have two options. First, they may then issue a police protection notice. This is similar to a temporary protection order (read more about protection orders here), requiring the respondent to be of good behaviour and not commit domestic violence against the aggrieved. It may also prevent them from contacting the aggrieved or coming within a certain distance of a location for 24 hours.

Second, if they believe the aggrieved is in immediate danger, take the respondent into custody in a watch house for up to 8 hours during which time they have to make a DVO application. When released from custody, they will either issue a police protection notice (above) or give the respondent a copy of the DVO application. This will also contain a court date and release conditions. Visit the ‘Conditions of DVOs’ section of the Domestic Violence page for more information. 

Additionally, the police may charge the respondent with a criminal offence (for example, stalking, assault, grievous bodily harm).

Conditions of DVOs

All DVOs have two compulsory conditions stating that:[3]

1. The respondent must be of good behaviour towards the aggrieved and must not commit domestic violence, and;
2. The respondent must be of good behaviour towards any person named in the order and not commit associated domestic violence against the named person.

The court can also order other conditions necessary and desirable in the interests of the aggrieved and named persons.[4] This can include conditions prohibiting the respondent from contacting or approaching the aggrieved and other named persons, attending the aggrieved person’s place of residence or work, and specifying a distance from the premises that the respondent must maintain. Visit the ‘Conditions of DVOs’ section of the Domestic Violence page for more information. 

Court process and role in proceedings

Both parties will need to attend court as required by the magistrate/judge.

The first court date after a DVO application is filed as a ‘mention’. If both parties attend the mention and agree to the order, the court may make a final protection order. In consenting to the order, the respondent does not necessarily have to admit to the domestic violence(read more about “Consenting without Admission” here). If the parties do not agree on an order, the court may set a date for a hearing. The court may issue a temporary protection order until the hearing (read more about protection orders here).

If the respondent does not appear at the mention and has been provided with the application by the police, the court can make a final protection order in their absence (read more about protection orders here).

Final protection orders are made for a minimum of 5 years unless the court is satisfied a shorter order can be made. Importantly, a DVO will not appear on a respondent’s criminal history. However, contravention of any DVO is a criminal offence. If charged successfully, this will appear in the respondent’s criminal history.

A DVO made in Queensland can be registered and enforced in all Australian states and territories and in New Zealand. Similarly, a DVO made in another Australian state or territory or in New Zealand can be registered for enforcement in Queensland.

How can Robertson O’Gorman help?

DVOs can have significant consequences on a respondent’s life and livelihood, so legal assistance may be necessary to represent their interests during the process. Robertson O’Gorman has extensive experience in providing legal advice regarding domestic violence matters. Call us today on 3034 0000 or log an enquiry through our Free Case Appraisal.