Protection orders if there is a potential for violence
If you are concerned that you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police emergency number.
If a person is concerned for the safety of themselves or their family, but is not in immediate danger, they can apply for a family protection order<p>In Family Law Act cases: An order made by a judge under the Family Law Act to protect one family member from another where there is a risk of family violence. In criminal court: An order made by a judge under s. 810 of the Criminal Code to limit or prohibit contact or communications between people where there is a safety risk. Legally called a “810 recognizance”, also called a “peace bond” or a “no contact order”.</p> under the Family Law Act<p>The main provincial law that deals with family law issues in BC.</p>. Some relevant sections of the Family Law Act are s. 1 which defines a "family member", s. 182 which defines an “at-risk family member” and Part 9 (sections 182-191) which provides information about protection from family violence<p><span lang="EN-US">Family violence includes physical, sexual, and psychological or emotional abuse of a family member. Family violence does not include self-defence. See the definition in section 1 of the </span><span lang="EN-US">Family Law Act</span><span lang="EN-US">. </span><span> </span></p>.
These orders help protect a person who fears violence or harm from another person. The order can include conditions which may state that an individual have no or limited contact with the person who sought the protection order and that person's children or family.
If you fear violence or harm from another person, you may be able to get an order under the Criminal Code<p><span lang="EN-US">Criminal Code of Canada (CCC)</span><span lang="EN-US"> is the federal law that applies across Canada and sets out criminal offences, sentences and how a criminal case proceeds. A judge must follow the law in the </span><span lang="EN-US">Criminal Code</span><span lang="EN-US">.</span><span> </span></p> from the Provincial Court to protect yourself. These orders are called "section 810 orders" because this is the section of the Criminal Code that authorizes them. They are also sometimes called peace bonds.