15 Apr 2020

Coronavirus: Drop in urgent protection orders during lockdown

From Morning Report, 8:45 am on 15 April 2020

While incidents of family violence appear to be continuing at the same level as pre-Covid 19 lockdown, the number of victims seeking help has plummeted.

Ministry of Justice data obtained by RNZ reveals the number of without-notice protection order applications halved during the first week of level four lockdown.

The application of such a court order can prevent contact between parties for up to three months.

Some working on the frontline of social services say the decrease likely means that victims have simply stopped seeking help.

RNZ's court reporter Anneke Smith filed this story.