INTERVENTION ORDERS
Intervention orders (or “IVOs”) are a type of ‘civil’ order – they are not a criminal matter at the level of the order itself.
IVOs are intended to protect those who fear family violence, or who have reported experiencing family violence, which are referred to in an intervention order as the ‘affected family member’.
Family violence can be used to describe a range of behaviour such as:
- Physical abuse;
- Emotional abuse;
- Financial or ‘economic’ abuse;
- Sexual abuse;
- Serious threats; and
- Stalking.
The protected person or someone else, like a police officer or a parent, can also apply for an order. Police can apply for personal safety intervention orders when they believe that a person needs protection.
There are two types of intervention orders that a magistrate can make at court. They are:
- Interim order – a short-term order made until a magistrate can hear all the evidence and make a final decision; and
- Final order – a longer-term order made if a magistrate believes a person needs protecting.
Please contact us immediately if an Interim Intervention Order has been issued against you and you require legal assistance.