Domestic Violence Injunctions

Domestic abuse is not always physical violence. Domestic abuse can include:

• Coercive control

• Economic abuse

• Online abuse

• Threatened violence and intimidation

• Emotional abuse

• Sexual abuse

Coercive control can be characterised as “an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse” (CPS.gov.uk).

To varying degrees, abusers will utilise coercive tactics to punish, hurt, or intimidate their victims. For instance, they might try to manipulate the victim by:

• Attempting to sabotage the victim's relationships with other family members or friends by isolating them.

• Insulting, demeaning or dehumanising the sufferer verbally.

• Controlling the victim's life, including everyday routines, interaction with friends and family, and social isolation.

• Threatening the victim's children, among other coercive acts.

• Forcing the victim to engage in illegal activity.

• Denying the victim medical attention.

• Preventing the victim from acquiring transportation and leaving their home.

Gaslighting describes a type of psychological torture or intimidation in which the subject is given misleading information to make them question their memory and perception.

At its worst, gaslighting is combined with physical abuse by abusers to keep it from being reported.

The methods have long-lasting impacts on the victim and have been compared to brainwashing. Gaslighting is typically challenging to recognise since there are no outward physical symptoms.

However, it is incredibly manipulative and can result in long-term mental health problems, which frequently cause victims to doubt their own sanity.

There are five main signs of gaslighting:

• Manipulation

• Denial

• Misdirection

• Contradiction

• Lying

While some people do exhibit some narcissistic qualities occasionally, narcissistic personality disorder is characterised by excessive narcissism that manifests in a pathological manner.

A person typically has an excessive desire for reinforcement and adoration, as well as an overestimation of their own abilities.

Narcissists frequently have a restricted capacity for feeling emotion.

Although narcissism is an illness that rarely arises in family proceedings, having knowledge of and experience with these family cases is crucial to making sure that the right safeguards are in place, so that the case can advance without unnecessary interruptions, and that the predetermined course of action can be followed.

A non-molestation order prohibits a person associated with the applicant from molesting or threatening them or a relevant child.

Non-molestation orders are used to protect a party from domestic violence, harassment, and threats.

The family court will take into account all of your circumstances, including the parental responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of any minor children, before considering whether to award a non-molestation order.

Therefore, you must demonstrate to the family court how the order's denial would endanger your health, safety, or well-being, as well as the welfare of your children.

The non-molestation order can also prevent your abuser from visiting your home if you are the only owner of the home or have a sole tenancy over it, are not married to your abuser, and your abuser has no legal claim to your home.

Alternatively, if you want to prevent the abuser from visiting your house, you must apply for an occupation order.

An occupation order grants the applicant the right to occupy a dwelling house. The court can decide who should or should not reside in all or part of the home and occupation orders can also exclude the other person from an area around the home.

Our family law solicitors can assist with applications for non-molestation orders and occupation orders to protect someone from domestic violence, harassment, or threats. The person applying for the non-molestation order and occupation order must be associated with the other person, such as have an intimate personal relationship, and we can advise in respect of this.

If you need immediate protection non-molestation orders and occupation orders can be applied for on an urgent basis. You can make an application ‘without notice’ to the other person.

This means that you do not have to tell the person that you want protection from that you are applying for an occupation order, and the court will list a hearing without notice to the other person. When the order is made the other person will need to be informed.

We have also been successful in representing those against whom allegations of domestic abuse have been made. If someone has made allegations of domestic abuse against you, we have the expertise to advise and represent you through the proceedings.

Unfortunately, we do not offer legal aid as we do not have a legal aid contract. You can search for a legal adviser with a legal aid contract in England and Wales here - Find a legal aid adviser or family mediator (justice.gov.uk)

If you are in immediate danger of being abused or have been abused, contact the police.