Domestic Violence & Police Response in Nova Scotia
What survivors may expect when Nova Scotia police respond to a domestic violence report.
When Police Respond to Relationship Violence Calls
When Police First Arrive
Police responses can vary by province, territory, and local policy, but some general steps are common across Canada.
- Safety check: Officers usually first check if anyone is injured or needs urgent medical help.
- Securing the scene: They may separate people, ask who is present, and look for immediate safety risks (weapons, children, ongoing threats).
- Brief questions: Each person may be spoken to separately. Officers may ask what happened, who lives there, and if there have been past incidents.
- Witness information: If others are present (neighbours, friends, children), officers may gather basic information from them.
- Evidence collection: Depending on what they see, police might take photos of injuries or damage, note statements, or collect items as evidence.
- Record checks: Officers may check for previous calls, criminal history, or existing court orders such as bail conditions, probation terms, or protection orders.
When Police Decide to Arrest
Police consider several factors when deciding whether to arrest someone after a relationship violence call.
- Evidence of an offence: Officers look for signs that a criminal offence may have happened (for example, assault, threats, mischief, harassment).
- Risk of further harm: If they believe someone is at ongoing risk, they are more likely to arrest and remove the person believed to be causing harm.
- Existing court orders: If there is already a no-contact order or protection order in place and it appears to have been breached, arrest is more likely.
- Local policy: Some police services have “mandatory charge” or “pro-charge” policies for domestic violence situations when officers believe an offence occurred.
If police arrest someone, they usually:
- Place the person under arrest and may handcuff them.
- Explain that they are under arrest and for what suspected offence.
- Transport them to a police station or holding facility.
- Decide whether to keep them in custody for a bail hearing or release them with conditions.
If Police Do NOT Arrest
Sometimes police may leave without making an arrest, even if they were called to a conflict or violent incident.
- Insufficient evidence: Officers may feel they do not have enough information or evidence to support a criminal charge at that moment.
- Conflicting information: If stories differ and there is limited physical evidence, police may document the call and leave without charges.
- Alternative steps: They may suggest temporary separation, provide safety information, or give contact details for local supports.
If no arrest is made, police may still record the incident. That record can sometimes matter if there are future calls or legal steps later on.
Release Conditions After Arrest
After someone is arrested, they may either be:
- Released by police with written conditions, sometimes called an “undertaking” or “release order,” or
- Held for a bail hearing, where a judge or justice decides whether to release them and what conditions to set.
Common release conditions in relationship violence cases can include:
- No-contact terms (no calls, messages, or in-person contact with the named person).
- Non-communication with children unless another order or agreement specifically allows it.
- No-go conditions (not going to a home, workplace, school, or other listed place).
- Weapons conditions (no weapons and possible surrender of firearms, depending on the case).
- Substance-use conditions (for example, not drinking alcohol if it is related to risk).
- Reporting conditions (checking in with police or a bail supervisor).
Understanding No-Contact Terms
No-contact terms are often part of release conditions, peace bonds, probation orders, or family-related protection orders. They usually spell out how, when, or if any communication is allowed.
Typical No-Contact Rules
- No direct contact: No in-person contact, phone calls, texts, emails, or messages on any app or platform.
- No indirect contact: No asking friends, relatives, or others to pass on messages.
- No social media contact: No adding, following, messaging, tagging, or commenting online.
- Distance rules: Staying a set distance away (for example, from a home, workplace, school, or other places you regularly attend).
Possible Exceptions
Sometimes, orders or conditions include limited exceptions. These can be very specific and written in careful language. Common examples include:
- Child-related contact through a third party: Contact only to arrange parenting time, often through a specified person or app.
- Contact allowed only by a lawyer: Communication only through legal representatives about court or family matters.
- Contact as allowed by a family court order: In some cases, a later family order might set communication rules about children.
How Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs) Work With Police
Some provinces and territories use emergency or short-term protection orders that can sometimes be granted quickly, even outside regular court hours. Names vary by region (for example, Emergency Protection Order, Emergency Intervention Order, or similar).
What an EPO Can Do
Depending on the province or territory, an emergency-type protection order may be able to:
- Order the other person not to contact you or certain family members.
- Require them to stay away from your home, workplace, school, or other locations.
- Give temporary possession of the home or certain property to you.
- Include instructions about police assisting you to safely collect belongings.
How Police Use EPOs During a Call
If police attend a call and there is an existing EPO or similar order, they may:
- Ask if any protection orders are already in place and may check their systems for orders.
- Review the terms to see if they appear to be breached (for example, the person is at your home despite a no-go clause).
- Consider arresting the person believed to have breached the order, depending on local law and the situation.
- Use the EPO terms to help decide practical steps, like who stays in the home and whether belongings can be collected immediately.
When Both Criminal Conditions and an EPO Exist
Sometimes there are multiple overlapping orders or conditions, such as:
- Police or court release conditions with no-contact terms, and
- A separate EPO or family court order about the home or children.
In these situations, police usually:
- Look at all applicable conditions and orders.
- Follow criminal no-contact and no-go conditions as a priority, especially if there is a conflict between orders.
- Document any suspected breaches and may lay additional charges, depending on the facts and local law.
What Happens if Police Believe Conditions or Orders Are Breached
If police think someone has breached release conditions, a protection order, or other court terms, they may:
- Investigate the situation, including what contact occurred and how.
- Check the exact wording of the order or conditions.
- Arrest the person suspected of breaching, depending on their assessment and the law in your area.
- Lay further criminal charges related to the breach.
If you are unsure whether a situation counts as a breach, some people choose to:
- Contact police to describe what happened and ask how they view it.
- Reach out to a community-based support or legal information service for general information about next steps.
Additional support options across Canada, including information services and shelters, can be found through resources listed at DV.Support.
Considering Your Safety When Police Are Involved
Police involvement can sometimes change risk levels in the short term. Some people experience increased tension or harassment after a report, while others experience increased safety. It can be helpful to:
- Think ahead about safe places you might go if tension rises.
- Identify trusted people you might contact if conditions are breached.
- Consider digital safety steps if you are worried about being monitored or tracked.