Police crime prevention program of the federal states and the federal government
The police can take a number of measures to avert danger
After an act of violence, the police can expel the perpetrator from the home and ban them from returning for ten days if there is a risk of further acts of violence. The victim will be given documentation of the intervention. This is important if further protection is to be requested from the family court. This is usually necessary in order to break the cycle of violence.
The police will check compliance with the ban on return during the ten-day period unannounced. A violation can be prosecuted with a fine or imprisonment. If the offender attempts to enter the home during the ban on return, the police should be informed in any case.
The ten-day period of the police ban from the home gives victims the opportunity to seek counseling and get support from a local help center. With the victim's consent, the local police officers will arrange a contact nearby.
The Protection against Violence Act significantly strengthens the protection options for victims of domestic violence and makes perpetrators more accountable. It enables the family court to prohibit the perpetrator from entering the shared home in the long term. This is an important prerequisite for interrupting an escalation of violence in the family or relationship. In addition, the violent partner can be banned from approaching and from contacting the perpetrator (phone calls, text messages, faxes, emails, social networks) as well as other forms of harassment. In addition, the court can oblige the perpetrator to let the person at risk use the shared apartment at least temporarily (generally for six months with the option of extending for a maximum of six further months) - regardless of who is the sole or co-owner or tenant of the apartment.
You can contact the family court and apply for a protection order by appearing there in person and/or with the assistance of a lawyer. The family court judge can determine that the perpetrator must comply with protection orders, for example:
- to leave the shared home, even for longer periods or permanently,
- Maintain a certain distance from the victim or their children or
- to avoid all contact
.
A violation of court protection orders is a criminal offense under Section 4 of the Protection against Violence Act and is punishable by imprisonment of up to one year or a fine. If the perpetrator violates the protection orders, inform the police immediately! The police will be informed of the protection order by the court and can take further necessary measures to protect you. Please note that the application for civil protection may be subject to costs. You may be entitled to legal aid, contact the court for this.
Victims of domestic violence often find their situation hopeless. Seek professional help to get support in escaping the violence.
In addition to the police, who can be contacted at any time via 110 in acute situations of violence,
- Women's advice centers; search for advice centers at:
Men in the context of domestic violence
Men receive help and support from
- Field offices of the Weißer Ring e.V. (www.weisser-ring.de or via the Weißer Ring e.V. victim hotline on 116006)
- Specially trained officers for the police victim protection of your local police force
- Phone counseling available around the clock on 0800 - 1110111 or 0800 - 1 11 0222
- Equal opportunities offices of the district offices and municipalities (http://www.frauenbueros-nrw.de/service/gleichstellungsstellen-in-nrw.html)
Special offers for LGBTI people can be found at www.rubicon-koeln.de.
In order to break the cycle of violence, it is necessary to change the behavior of the perpetrator. These behavioral changes should be achieved with the help of social training programs (perpetrator programs), which the justice system can make mandatory for the perpetrator.
Offender programs are often offered by counseling centers of the Diakonie, Caritas, Arbeiterwohlfahrt or the Sozialdienst Katholischer Männer. Perpetrators of domestic violence can also turn to these support organizations for assistance in preventing further outbreaks of violence.
