For immediate help at any time, please call us on 03300 564456 (24 hour)
For immediate help at any time, please call us on 03300 564456 (24 hour)
Please note that legal information on this page is not legal advice. If you have a legal problem you should seek legal advice, we can help you access solicitors with experience of dealing with domestic abuse and family matters.
We understand that not everyone understands the rights they have, or the specific details of the rights a person may have. We want everyone to know their rights, and how they can use them to live safe and independent lives.
The Human Rights Act 1998 protects the following:
The right to life: protects your life, by law. The State is required to investigate suspicious deaths and deaths in custody.
The prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment: you should never be tortured or treated in an inhuman or degrading way, no matter what the situation.
Protection against slavery and forced labour: you should not be treated like a slave or subjected to forced labour.
The right to liberty and freedom: you have the right to be free and the State can only imprison you with very good reason – for example, if you are convicted of a crime.
The right to a fair trial and no punishment without law: you are innocent until proven guilty. If accused of a crime, you have the right to hear the evidence against you in a court of law.
Respect for privacy and family life and the right to marry: protects against unnecessary surveillance or intrusion into your life. You have the right to marry and enjoy family relationships.
Freedom of thought, religion and belief: you can believe what you like and practise your religion or beliefs.
Free speech and peaceful protest: you have a right to speak freely and join with others peacefully, to express your views.
No discrimination: everyone’s rights are equal. You should not be treated unfairly – because, for example, of your gender, race, disability, sexuality, religion or age.
Protection of property: protects against state interference with your possessions.
The right to an education: means that no child can be denied an education.
The right to free elections: elections must be free and fair.
If you are a victim of a crime that took place in England or Wales, the Victims’ Code gives you the right to information and support from criminal justice organisations such as the police and the courts.
All victims of crime have the right to:
At Cyfannol we can support you with understanding of how the statutory organisations work and help you to navigate the criminal justice system. Our Support workers and IDVA service can also help you contact the police so that you can understand the investigation process.
In an emergency you should always contact the police for assistance by dialling 999.
If it is not an emergency you can report a crime by:
There are different protective orders you can be granted to prevent further abuse. Your support worker or IDVA can help you navigate these processes and decide which if any you might need to peruse to keep yourself and any children you may have safe.
The police have the power to issue a DVPN in certain circumstances following a domestic violence incident. DVPNs last for 48 hours. Within that time the police will have to apply to the court for a DVPO.
DVPOs last for up to 28 days, which gives you and your support worker time to work out anything you need long-term, whether it’s housing, medical care, mental health care or child custody arrangements. DVPNs and DVPOs will include restrictions on your abusers activity which can include:
Non-Molestation Order
A non-molestation order is a kind of injunction which can protect you and any relevant children from violence or harassment. You can obtain a non-molestation order against someone who has been physically violent or against someone who is harassing, intimidating or pestering you.
Examples of what a non-molestation order might include:
Clare’s Law, also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), allows those who are concerned about possible abusive behaviour to request information about their partner from the police. A close friend or family member can also apply if they believe someone is at risk of abuse.
You can make a request under Clare’s Law by finding and contacting your local police service, calling the non-emergency number 101, or by visiting your local police station. The maximum time to complete the whole process is 35 days.
Once an application has been made, the police will carry out a range of checks along with other partner agencies, such as the probation service, prison service or social services. If there is a record of violent or abusive offences, or if the police feel there is a risk of abuse or violence, they will consider sharing this information with you. A person’s previous convictions are treated as confidential, and the information will only be disclosed if it is lawful and proportionate, and there is a pressing need to make the disclosure to prevent further crime.
If the checks do not show that there is a pressing need to make a disclosure to prevent further crime, the police will tell you that. This may be because your partner or potential partner does not have a record of abusive offences or there is no information held to indicate they pose a risk of harm to you. If this is the case, it does not mean they are not showing worrying behaviour and what your experiencing is not domestic abuse.
Further information on domestic abuse and the law can be found below:
You have rights to any data held by organisations about you and that include the information Cyfannol holds about you. You can read our full Privacy Policy here but below is some information about your rights surrounding your personal data, how it is stored (by us and by others) and your access to it.
The Data Protection Act 2018 as the UK’s implementation of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Under the Act, everyone responsible for using personal data has to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’. They must make sure the information is:
There is stronger legal protection for more sensitive information, such as:
Under the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the following rights These include the right to:
You can obtain information about yourself from Cyfannol at any time, this includes any case notes, personal data and support plans we have written. This is called a Subject Access Request.
To access your data, you can write to us or email us. You may also have a representative contact us – such as a solicitor. We will process your subject access request in no more than 40 days, once we have verified the information and your identification (if necessary).
There is a £10 admin fee for a Subject Access Request – this is in line with the law.
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