An injunction/civil order is a “stay away” order, which prevents the abuser from doing certain things (e.g. contacting the victim) or enforces them to do things (e.g. to leave the home).

It is possible for a court to make a number of orders where domestic abuse has occurred and the victim needs to be protected. The most common types of injunctions/civil orders used in domestic abuse cases are:

  1. Non-Molestation Orders (NMO) – this type of order will prevent the abuser from harassing, intimidating, or pestering the victim-survivor or any children who live with the victim-survivor. The abuser does not have to have been physically abusive in order to obtain this type of order. If an order is breached a criminal offence will have been committed.
  2. Occupation Orders (OO) – This type of order will establish who has a right to stay in the home. An occupation order can order an abuser to move out of the home or to keep a certain distance from the home. In order to apply for this type of order, the victim-survivor will need to know if they, or the abuser (or both), are legally entitled to occupy the property.
  3. Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO) – please see FAQ on DVPOs
  4. Stalking Protection Orders (SPO) – these injunctions can be obtained by the police where they consider someone has been subjected to stalking. It enables the police to intervene early, upon conviction or acquittal, and even if they are not proceeding with a criminal prosecution.
  5. Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders (FGMPO) – these are designed to prevent any woman or girl at risk of FGM from being taken abroad or form even prohibiting someone from making arrangements for this to happen.
  6. Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPO)- these are simply to protect anyone felt to be at risk of a marriage they do not want.