Victims Information

Police Safety Orders

Police can issue a Police Safety Order to protect you and your children from family violence. Police might do this if they have been called out to a family violence incident.

What does a Police Safety Order do?

If the police issue a Police Safety Order, the abusive person must:

• immediately leave your house, even if they normally live there
• not assault, threaten, intimidate or harass you, or encourage anyone else to do this.

The police will talk to you about what support and protection you need but they do not need your consent to issue a Police Safety Order.

A Police Safety Order can last for up to five days.

What happens if the person breaches the Police Safety Order?

If the person breaches the Police Safety Order, the police can take them into custody and put them before the court. The court might make a temporary protection order or tell the police to issue another Police Safety Order.

For more information see Police Safety Orders - New Zealand Police website (external link) .

Last modified: 22nd February 2016 Print