Domestic Violence Act 2018

Recommendation for engagement by respondent with certain services

29. (1) A court may, when making a safety order, a barring order or an emergency barring order, recommend to a respondent that he or she engage with a programme or service to address any issue relating to his or her behaviour which contributed to the application for the order being made including—

(a) a programme for perpetrators of domestic violence,

(b) an addiction service,

(c) a counselling or psychotherapy service, or

(d) a financial planning service.

(2) The court may, when hearing an application for a variation of, or an appeal from, a safety order, barring order or emergency barring order or when hearing an application for a further safety, barring or emergency barring order, consider the engagement of the respondent with a programme or service referred to in subsection (1) or any engagement of the respondent with a similar programme or service, whether or not on the recommendation of the court and the outcome of that engagement.

(3) If a court considers the engagement of the respondent with a programme or service in accordance with subsection (2), it shall have regard to the view (if any) of the applicant on that engagement and the effect of that engagement on the behaviour of the respondent.