Part 1Domestic abuse protection notices and orders

Persons to whom, and behaviour to which, notices and orders may relate

3What constitutes abusive behaviour

(1)

Subsections (2) to (4) elaborate on when behaviour by person A is abusive of person B.

(2)

Behaviour which is abusive of person B includes (in particular)—

(a)

behaviour directed at person B that is violent, threatening or intimidating, 

(b)

behaviour directed at person B, at a child of person B or at another person that either—

(i)

has as its purpose (or among its purposes) one or more of the relevant effects set out in subsection (3), or

(ii)

would be considered by a reasonable person to be likely to have one or more of the relevant effects set out in subsection (3).

(3)

The relevant effects are of—

(a)

making person B dependent on, or subordinate to, person A,

(b)

isolating person B from friends, relatives or other sources of support,

(c)

controlling, regulating or monitoring person B's day-to-day activities,

(d)

depriving person B of, or restricting person B's, freedom of action,

(e)

frightening, humiliating, degrading or punishing person B.

(4)

In subsection (2)(a), the reference to violent behaviour includes sexual violence as well as physical violence.