Domestic Violence

The Office of Law Reform has responsibility for the civil remedies for domestic violence contained in the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.  This Order allows victims of domestic violence to obtain protective orders from the court.  These orders may prevent a perpetrator of domestic violence from “molesting” the victim. The orders can also make arrangements about who can live in the family home.

The Office carried out a review of the operation of the 1998 Order in 2003 and produced a paper which you can view above.

Amending legislation The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 was taken through Westminster in 2005.  The legislation gives added protection to victims of domestic violence, takes account of Human Rights issues and increases the criminal penalties for breaching the protective civil orders.

The Office of Law Reform sits on the Regional Steering Group on Domestic Violence, which is an interdepartmental and voluntary sector group, tasked with ensuring that the issue of domestic violence in Northern Ireland is properly addressed.

The Office of Law Reform has contributed to the Regional Steering Group’s Strategy

“Tackling Violence at Home”

and the yearly action plans which are produced by the Group.  The Regional Steering Group’s Strategy and Action Plans are available at  www.dhsspsni.gov.uk

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