Restraining order practices set to change

Work is underway to amend the law regarding restraining orders so that judges will be authorised to make a preliminary decision to give out a restraining order.

This change is primarily aimed at protecting the victim until a final court decision is made.

The plan is to put on-the-spot legal injunctions on an equal legal footing with an injunction as defined by the current law.

The proposed amendment seeks to relax the reasonable suspicion requirement for giving a restraining order. The objective is to ensure quick protection of a victim, who may e.g. be harassed by a former partner.

Under the amended law, a restraining order can be handed out if there is a reasonable suspicion that a person wishes to harm another, that there is reasonable cause to believe the person will continue to harm another, and that the victim has no reasonable interest in contacting the suspect.

Translated by prosa.fo