Abuse victims at risk as ‘outdated’ system leaves up to 13 per cent of restraining orders unserved

Exclusive: The pandemic made it easier to serve restraining orders because of a relaxation in the rules, but experts say courts are going ‘backwards’ since lockdown started easing, reports Maya Oppenheim

The non-molestation orders often restrict where abusers can go or whom they can approach (In Pictures/Getty)

Domestic abuse victims are being placed at risk by an “outdated” system in which some restraining orders are not being served, experts have warned.

Figures seen by The Independent from the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) reveal that up to 13 per cent of orders issued through civil courts were not served on perpetrators in 2019.

Longstanding rules require so-called ‘non-molestation orders’ to be served to abusive partners in person – an often dangerous task usually undertaken by former police officers working for the courts.