When someone reaches the point of seeking protection, the last thing they need is more barriers, more complexity, more systems to navigate. Domestic abuse already demands enough survival labour. The system should not add more.
At NCDV, everything we do is designed to make the process as simple, swift and trauma-informed as possible — because protection delayed is risk extended.
Here is how protection moves from first contact through to court order.
1. Referral
Referring to NCDV is fast and simple. There are no long forms or complex screening gateways. All we need to begin is a name, a contact number, and permission to contact.
Referrals can be made through our website, the NCDV App, by email, phone or text — and we accept self-referrals too.
Safety shouldn’t depend on professional gatekeeping or whether someone knows “the right person” to ask. The door is open.
2. First Steps
Once a referral is made, our experienced and trauma-informed First Steps Team will make contact as soon as possible, usually the next working day.
This conversation is gentle and exploratory. We discuss options, whether a protective order is appropriate, and whether the situation meets the legal criteria. There is no pressure and no expectation, this is about informed choice, not pushing someone into action before they are ready.
We also do a short assessment to see whether legal aid is likely to be available.
3. Legal Support Pathway
Next, we connect the survivor to a legal aid solicitor or, if they are not eligible for funding, our pro bono team will assist free of charge.
Depending on the route taken and the solicitor’s preference, the survivor’s witness statement and documentation may be taken and prepared by our skilled casework team.
This is detailed, sensitive work, and our team are deeply experienced in supporting people through it with care, clarity and dignity.
4. Court
This is often the hardest part of the journey, but also one of the most empowering.
The survivor attends court to apply for the order, either with a solicitor or representing themselves as a Litigant in Person. If someone is going without a solicitor, NCDV can signpost or advise on suitable support to be there with them on the day.
Standing up in court can feel daunting, but for many survivors, this is the moment they reclaim their voice.
5. Serving the Order
After the order is made, the next step is serving it on the abuser. There are several options available, and we will advise which is appropriate and safest for each situation.
If the order is not contested, the legal process is complete, and the survivor can breathe knowing protection is now in place.
If it is contested, both parties will need to attend court so the judge can hear both sides. Advice and support continues throughout this stage, no one is left to navigate this alone.
Every day in England and Wales, brave survivors step out of their comfort zone and find the courage to do this. And every day, it changes lives.
6. Police Access and Enforcement
Finally, NCDV loads a copy of the order onto ASSIST, our secure police-accessible database, available 24/7 across England and Wales. We also email a copy directly to the relevant police force so they have it quickly, clearly, and without delay.
This means that if the order is breached, police have the legal clarity and mandate to act.
Protection should not be distant, unreachable or wrapped in red tape. It should be swift, accessible, and survivor-led.
This is what NCDV delivers every single day: a clear, supported pathway to safety, from the first call, to the court order, to enforcement. Because when survivors are protected, they can breathe again. They can think again. And they can begin rebuilding their own future on their own terms.
Charlotte Woodward
Head of Training & Development, NCDV
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.