Family Violence
                              Safety Notices
                              &
                              Intervention
                              Orders

A Sergeant of Police or a higher ranking officer can issue a Family Violence Safety Notice (FVSN).

Family Violence Safety Notices may contain conditions including:

1. prohibiting the respondent from committing family violence against the protected person
   
   

2. excluding the respondent from the family home
   
   

3. prohibiting the respondent from going near the protected person
   
   

Family Violence Safety Notices will last for a maximum of 72 hours.

They will then be brought before the court.

The court will then decide whether ongoing protection is needed and, if so, a family violence intervention order may be made to ensure ongoing protection of the victim.

Your children can be included in a Safety Notice to make sure you are all safe.

The police may decide to apply for a Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO) if the safety, welfare or property of a family member appears to be in danger.

This could mean the police make an application for an Intervention Order even if you do not agree.

The police officer will make it clear to the abusive family member that applying for an Intervention Order is a police decision.

Your children can be included on the Intervention Order to make sure you are all safe.

You can also apply for an Intervention Order at a court, without police.

The Victims of Crime Helpline can offer more information about this option. Call the Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817.

An Intervention Order can include conditions to stop the perpetrator:

1. from hurting, harassing, threatening, or intimidating you
   
   

2. from coming within a certain distance of your house
   
   

3. from contacting you by any means, including email, SMS and phone
   
   

4. damaging your property
   
   

5. and may include a condition to make the perpetrator leave the family home.
   
   

If the police come to your house after hours or on the weekend they can issue a Family Violence Safety Notice (FVSN), which has similar conditions to an Intervention Order.

It last for 72 hours and acts as an application for an Intervention Order, which will go to court. A magistrate will then decide what happens next.

The perpetrator must follow the rules on the Intervention Order or FVSN. It is a criminal offense for someone to disobey an Intervention Order or FVSN. If they are found guilty they could pay a fine or even go to jail.

Source : State Government of Victoria - Department of Justice