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What is family and domestic violence?
Family and domestic violence is behaviour which results in physical, sexual and/or psychological damage, forced social isolation, economic deprivation, or behaviour which causes the victim(s) to live in fear.
Family and domestic violence can be experienced by people of all classes, religions, ethnicity, ages, abilities and sexual preference. All victims are entitled to access services which are provided in a fair and equitable manner.
The most important thing you can do is to get help! You need information and support to make yourself safe and end the abuse.
Is it a crime? YES!
Examples of criminal offences that occur in family and domestic violence situations include assault, sexual assault, making threats about a person's physical safety, stalking, damage or stealing of property and breaching Restraining Orders.
How to report family or domestic violence
Call police on 131 444 to report an incident of family and domestic violence. People with hearing impairments can call TTY 106.
Questions you may be asked:
- The address where the incident is taking place.
- Your name and telephone number.
- The offender's name, age and date of birth.
- Are there any weapons involved? Are you able to describe them?
- Are you the victim? If no, what's the victim's name?
If the incident is occurring while you are talking to the operator, stay on the telephone. Your safety is paramount to us.
How can police help?
Provided there is sufficient evidence, police will prosecute the accused person. This may require you to be a witness in court. If the court finds the person guilty of the crime, they will be convicted and the court will impose a punishment.
Police can also issue a Police Order, help you to get a Restraining Order, find a refuge or alternative accommodation. They can also refer you to support agencies such as Crisis Care, counselling services and legal services such as the Legal Aid Domestic Violence Legal Unit.
The police will take all measures possible to ensure the victim and children's welfare and safety is not compromised. They are also committed to ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable.
What is a Police Order?
Where there is insufficient evidence to arrest and charge a person for any act of family and domestic violence, but police hold concerns for the safety and welfare of any person, police may issue a Police Order.
There are two types of Police Orders, one which has a duration of 24 hours and the other which has a duration of 72 hours. Police may issue a 24-hour Police Order without the consent of any person, however to issue a 72-hour Police Order requires the consent of the person being protected.
A Police Order provides temporary but instant protection for a person who is being threatened, harassed or intimidated. It provides temporary relief to allow the opportunity for a person to attend court to obtain a Restraining Order.
It is a criminal offence to breach a Police Order and if a breach occurs the accused person will be arrested and charged, and faces a similar penalty to that of breaching a Restraining Order.
Do you need a Restraining Order?
If you or your property is threatened, harassed or intimidated and you are concerned that it will continue, then you can apply to have a Restraining Order taken out against the person concerned.
A Restraining Order is an order of the court preventing the offender from behaving in a manner that is intimidating or offensive. A Restraining Order prevents the person from coming near you or your property. It is a criminal offence to disobey the conditions of the Restraining Order.
Under certain circumstances a police officer can apply for an order on your behalf.
Anyone over the age of 18 can apply for a Restraining Order at a Magistrates Court. If you are not yet over 18, a parent, guardian, police officer or an adult can apply for a Restraining Order on your behalf.
The applicant is the person who is applying for a Restraining Order; the respondent is the person you apply to be protected from.
There are two types of restraining orders:
A court may issue a Violence Restraining Order if satisfied that (unless restrained, the respondent is likely to):
- commit a violent personal offence against the applicant; or
- behave in a manner that could reasonably be expected to cause the applicant to fear that the respondent will commit such an offence.
All Violence Restraining Orders include a restraint prohibiting the respondent from being in possession of a firearm or firearm licence and obtaining a firearms licence.
Misconduct Restraining Orders
A court may make a Misconduct Restraining Order if it is satisfied that (unless restrained, the respondent is likely to):
- behave in a manner that is intimidating or offensive to the applicant;
- cause damage to the applicant's property; or
- behave in a manner that breaches the peace.
More information
Department of the Attorney General, Court & Tribunal Services
Department of the Attorney General, Law Compass
(Victims of crime, victim support service, court services)
Department for Communities
(Family and domestic violence, support services, resources, families and parenting)
Metropolitan Family Protection Coordinators:
Central Metropolitan: Tel: (08) 9223 3171
Central.Metro.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
South East Metropolitan: Tel: (08) 9351 1400
South.East.Metro.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
South Metropolitan: Tel: (08) 9430 1264
SouthMetroFamilyProtectionUnitSMAIL@police.wa.gov.au
North West Metropolitan: Tel: (08) 9400 0936
North.West.Metro.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
East Metropolitan: Tel: (08) 9250 0386
East.Metro.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
West Metropolitan: Tel: (08) 9201 7624
West.Metro.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
Regional Family Protection Coordinators:
Goldfields: Tel: (08) 9021 9774
Goldfields-Esperance.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
Kimberley: Tel: (08) 9194 0259
Kimberley.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
Pilbara : Tel: (08) 9160 2139
Pilbara.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
Mid West-Gascoyne : Tel: (08) 9923 4629
Mid.West-Gascoyne.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
South West : Tel: (08) 9722 2011
South.West.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
Great Southern : Tel: (08) 9892 9328
GreatSouthernFamilyProtectionUnitSMAIL@police.wa.gov.au
Peel : Tel: (08) 9581 0278 / 9528 8030
Mandurah.Family.Protection.Unit.SMAIL@police.wa.gov.au
Rockingham.Family.Protection.Unit.SMAIL@police.wa.gov.au
Wheatbelt : Tel: (08) 9622 4288
Wheatbelt.Family.Protection@police.wa.gov.au
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