Protecting yourself and your child from domestic abuse

If you are living in an abusive relationship and are worried about your safety and the safety of your child, help is available.

What help is available?

The Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 allows you to apply to the court for protective civil orders. These are called non-molestation orders and occupation orders:

A non molestation order will protect you from threats and/or actual violence and abuse
An occupation order will regulate the occupation of your family home by removing your abuser and allowing you to remain safely in your home

If you or your children are being subjected to either physical or emotional abuse at home you should also seek help as soon as possible.

Who can help

In an emergency – for example, if you are being threatened with violence or attacked, or are in fear of this, then call 999 immediately.

You can also contact the domestic violence freephone helpline on 0800 917 1414. A landline call does not show on the callers bill. A language line for non-English speaking callers and Textphone for hearing-impaired people are available using this number. The 24-hour helpline is open to anyone affected by domestic violence.

You can also contact the Police Service for Northern Ireland on 0845 600 8000 and ask to speak to a Domestic Violence Officers who can give specialist advice and support.

If you fear your partner will abduct the child, get advice as soon as possible. Your local Women's Aid group, Citizens Advice Bureau or a solicitor can advise you on how to protect your child and how contact between your child and a violent partner can be restricted or supervised. If you do not have a solicitor, telephone the Law Society of Northern Ireland. They will give you a list of family law solicitors in your area.

Victim Support Northern Ireland offers a range of free services to the victims of all types of crime. The Victim Support line is 028 90244039 (office hours) or 0845 303 0900 (out of office hours).

Victim Support Northern Ireland

Local Domestic Violence support groups, for example: Women’s Aid on 0800 917 1414, Men’s Advisory Project on 028 9024 1929, Rainbow Project on 028 9031 9030 or Belfast Lesbian Line on 028 9023 8668 can offer advice, counselling, information, or even alternative accommodation.

You may wish to contact your local Northern Ireland Housing Executive office or the Homeless Advice Centre on 028 90240588.