Legally, you can leave or end a relationship whenever you want. A relationship ends whenever you decide you don’t want to be in it anymore.
For immediate help, call the police on 111 and report family violence (see “Types of relationships covered by family violence laws” in this chapter). The police can issue a temporary Police Safety Order or PSO (see “Police Safety Orders: Immediate, short-term protection against family violence” in this chapter).
You might need support to get a Protection Order, which lasts longer, so it’s a good idea to get advice and support from a Women’s Refuge, your local Community Law Centre, or another lawyer as soon as you can (see “Applying for a Protection Order: Long-term protection against family violence” in this chapter). Applying for a Protection Order is free, but if you have help from a lawyer you will need to pay their fees. To get a Protection Order, you don’t need special proof, you just need to write down what kind of family violence has happened. A lawyer can help you tell your story to a judge in the Family Court.
‘Legal Aid’ is financial help so you can afford a lawyer even if you are on a benefit or low income. In cases of family violence, it’s easier to qualify for Legal Aid, so it’s worth finding out if you can get it. (see the chapter “Legal Aid and other legal help“). If you don’t get Legal Aid, you can ask your lawyer if you can pay their bill in weekly instalments.