If you’ve experienced intimate partner violence or been threatened with violence, remember that you aren’t alone. Help is available for you from the police, victim service workers, community organizations, and the court system.
This section explains the steps to take right now if you feel your safety is at risk.
See also: Who Can Help
If you’re in immediate danger — call 911 immediately
It’s against the law for anyone to assault you or your children, to harass or stalk you, to threaten to hurt you physically, or to damage your property.
If you’re afraid and think you or your children are in immediate danger from your partner, call the police right away by calling 911. (If your community doesn’t have a 911 service, call your local police emergency phone number.) The police will take immediate steps to ensure that you and others are safe.
There doesn’t need to be physical evidence or a witness — your story, told by you, is key evidence.
The police will gather evidence (facts) from you and others. Two things may happen next:
- When the police arrive, they’ll likely remove your partner. If your partner accuses you of abusing them, be ready with examples of past abuse and mention if the police have been there before to protect you.
- If there’s enough evidence, the police will arrest your partner and ask that your partner be charged with a crime. Crown counsel will decide if your partner should be charged or if a peace bond is more appropriate. (If they approve the charge, your partner will have to go to court.)
- If there’s not enough evidence for a charge such as assault, the police may still agree that your partner could harm you in the future. They may ask Crown counsel to apply for a peace bond or recommend that you apply for a family law protection order.
Everyone has the right to be safe. The police will help you. Ask them to take you to a transition house or safe house, or to another safe place — such as a trusted relative’s or friend’s house. The police can also refer you to a local victim service program where staff will support you and help you make a personal safety plan. If you can safely stay in your home and have your partner removed by police, consider if that option is better for you.
If you aren’t in immediate danger, but still fear for your safety
If, for any reason, you fear for your or your children’s future safety, you can:
- ask the police to help you get a peace bond, or
- apply to court for a family law protection order.
You may be able to try to get both a peace bond and a protection order at the same time. This will give you as much protection as possible.
You can contact VictimLinkBC to talk to a victim service worker in your community for support and information about getting peace bonds and family law protection orders. Call or text 1-800-563-0808, or email VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca.
If your family is involved with Child Protection Services
Duty to report child abuse
Under BC law, anyone who suspects that a child is in danger or knows that a child is being abused or neglected must report it. They can contact a child protection worker with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, a delegated Aboriginal agency, or the Helpline for Children at 310-1234 (no area code needed).
Protective Intervention Order
If a child protection worker has been assigned to your family because of concerns about violence from a partner, you can ask the worker to apply to court for a protective intervention order. This order tells your partner to stay away from the children for up to six months. At the same time, you can also:
- go to the police to ask for their help to get a peace bond,
- go to court to ask for a family law protection order,
- talk to a lawyer or ask about legal aid, or
- contact VictimLinkBC to talk to a victim service worker. Call or text 1-800-563-0808, or email VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca.
Victim Services in BC
Free victim service programs are available in most communities across the province. Victim service workers provide:
- emotional support;
- safety planning;
- practical assistance, such as going with you to court or to the police, or helping you complete application forms for benefits that you may be entitled to (such as Crime Victim Assistance Program benefits);
- information about the criminal court process, the criminal justice system, and the status of your case; and
- referrals to other community resources if you need them.
To find the victim service program nearest you, call VictimLinkBC, a toll-free, 24 hours a day, confidential, multilingual helpline available across BC and the Yukon. You can also text or email them. VictimLinkBC provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family or sexual violence.
Call or text 1-800-563-0808, or email VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca.