Protection without a protection order?

Protection without a protection order???????????????????????????????????????????19 May 2023

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Abused? Victim of domestic violence? Opposed to obtaining a protection order? Never obtained a protection order? Still want to protect yourself in terms of the criminal justice system?

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Some people are opposed to obtaining protection orders against their abusers or postpone doing so. This can be due to various reasons, including intimidation or just the mere idea of it having become necessary, often being difficult and devastating to process. Can the law still protect you in other ways without a protection order, should it become necessary? Yes.

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We assist clients with evaluating their current situations to determine the relevant crimes that can be identified in their unique sets of facts. Should an abuser act unexpectedly, as is usually the case, we are ready to assist clients with laying the relevant criminal charges at their nearest police stations.

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We accompany clients to police stations to assist them with providing clear instructions to police officials when relevant criminal charges are laid. We understand such emergencies are dictated by trauma and turmoil and giving clear instructions can be difficult. We assist clients with clearly describing events to police officials, so that taking action will not be delayed. When clients are emotional and distraught, it is easier for police to brush them off. We make sure that the police listens, as we can calmly state the facts on your behalf. We thereby ensure that the abuser is immediately arrested for the criminal acts committed.

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We are present throughout the process to support clients. We keep in contact with the investigating officer/s in the matter as well as the prosecutor/s acting on a client’s behalf at court. We make sure that all relevant facts are provided to these stakeholders, so that they can represent clients efficiently. We also assist in preparing clients for giving testimony as witnesses in criminal matters, should the accused enter a plea of not guilty. Police officials and prosecutors are often overworked and have limited time to speak to victims. We make sure clients will be ready for court by preparing them as the prosecutor would if they had more time. ?We support clients every step of the way in their fights for justice.

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Contact us at [email protected] to protect your interests even without a protection order.

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-?Janneke Steyn, Associate (Head of Family Law Department, VR Law Incorporated) with Master of Laws degree in the area of domestic violence and secondary victimisation of victims by the police and intensive criminal court experience.