Section 13: Alternative available for conviction
This section provides that, where the court is not satisfied that the domestic abuse offence has been committed, it can convict the accused of a specified alternative offence of harassment or putting people in fear of violence under the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. It also makes clear that this section does not affect provisions in section 6(2) of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 in relation to alternative verdicts on trial on indictment.