A Police Safety Order (PSO) is different from a Protection Order, and it's important to know the difference. Often, people issued a PSO think it provides permanent protection, but that isn’t the case. A PSO expires after a set period, determined by the Police officer attending the episode. The duration of a PSO depends on the perceived risk and can range from 1 hour to 10 days. In 2018, the maximum duration was increased from 5 days to 10 days.
The conditions of a PSO are similar to those of a Protection Order, with the core difference being the expiration of the order. A PSO provides time for the protected person to seek support, guidance, and any assistance needed to make informed decisions about their safety.
A PSO can be breached, and the Bound Person can be arrested. Various outcomes can result from breaching a PSO. Please click the link below to understand the consequences of breaching a PSO.
When a PSO is issued, the parties are identified as follows:
The Primary Victim is referred to as the Protected Person.
Primary Child Victims are also referred to as Protected Persons.
The Predominant Aggressor is referred to as the Bound Person.
Conditions of a PSO include:
No contact by the Bound Person with the Protected Persons (including children).
No third-party contact initiated by the Bound Person.
Firearms must be surrendered for the duration of the PSO.
It's important to know that a PSO overrides a Parenting Order for its duration. For example, if the Bound Person is supposed to have access to children on a weekend, but a PSO covers that period, the PSO takes precedence. The PSO is issued to increase safety, and if children are protected by it, they are potentially at risk if there is a PSO in place.
For more information, visit: Police Safety Orders | New Zealand Police
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