The Protection Order protects you from 5 types of criminal offences, including:
Intentionally causing harassment, alarm, or distress
This includes the use of threatening, abusive communication or behaviour to intentionally make the victim feel harassed, alarmed, or distressed, whether direct or indirect.
Example: A makes graphic comments about co-worker B, to another co-worker, C. Even though A did not directly say them to B, B feels distressed as B can hear these comments.
Harassment, alarm, or distress
This includes the use of threatening, abusive communication or behaviour to make the victim feel harassed, alarmed, or distressed, when it is heard, seen or otherwise perceived by any person.
Example: A posts B’s intimate photos online without their consent. Many others will come across these photos, and B feels distressed after discovering them through a third-party.
Fear or provocation of violence
This includes the use of threatening, abusive communication or behaviour to: a) make the victim believe unlawful violence will be used on them or another person, and b) provoke the use of unlawful violence by the victim.
- A and B are in an argument. A starts to hit B, making B fear for their own safety. A is guilty of an offence (making the victim believe violence will be used on them).
- C makes harmful comments about D in public. D reacts violently upon hearing them. C is guilty of an offence (provoking D through words).
This includes causing harassment, alarm or distress to the victim through various actions associated with stalking. Read more about Unlawful Stalking here.
Threatening, abusing, or insulting public servant or public service worker
This includes the use of indecent, threatening, abusive communication, or behaviour towards or to a public servant or public service worker in relation to their duties.