English to Croatian Other Law (general) Police work

1.1 Domestic violence and abuse is a devastating crime that shatters the lives of victims and families. It is important that the police have the right tools to enable them to provide effective protection to vulnerable victims.

1.2 Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) and Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs) were rolled out across all 43 police forces in England Wales from 8 March 2014. DVPOs are a civil order that fills a “gap” in providing protection to victims by enabling the police and magistrates’ courts to put in place protective measures in the immediate aftermath of a domestic violence incident where there is insufficient evidence to charge a perpetrator and provide protection to a victim via bail conditions.

1.3 A DVPN is an emergency non-molestation and eviction notice which can be issued by the police, when attending to a domestic abuse incident, to a perpetrator. Because the DVPN is a police-issued notice, it is effective from the time of issue, thereby giving the victim the immediate support they require in such a situation. Within 48 hours of the DVPN being served on the perpetrator, an application by police to a magistrates’ court for a DVPO must be heard. A DVPO can prevent the perpetrator from returning to a residence and from having contact with the victim for up to 28 days. This allows the victim a degree of breathing space to consider their options with the help of a support agency. Both the DVPN and DVPO contain a condition prohibiting the perpetrator from molesting the victim.

1.4 The Crime and Security Act (CSA 2010) gained royal assent on 8th April 2010 of which Sections 24-33 of the Act relate to Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders (DVPNs and DVPOs). The relevant sections of the Act are contained within Appendix A.