Protection Orders

The Dom Post reports that there has been a big decrease in the number of protection orders being sought, and that this is thought to be due to their cost and lack of effectiveness.

Having once had reason to apply for such an order myself, I would agree with the criticisms. I found the process confusing and the Police gave basically no advice apart from saying you need to go to court. I tried at first to do it all myself but ended up having to involve a lawyer. And if the order is resisted, it can take months before there is a resolution.

My preferred form of protection order is a powerful handgun, but of course if you use one even in self-defence you end up in court as Greg Carvell has. Inicdentially you can donate to Greg’s defence fund here. Carvell, people may recall, shot a man weilding a machete trying to rob his gun store.