Domestic Violence Injunctions and Your Local Council
Take the only too common case of a woman who is suffering domestic violence. She is not entitled to legal aid and feels too vulnerable to go it alone and apply to the court herself for a non-molestation injunction. In any case the restrictions on granting injunctions by the courts may apply. What can she do other than suffer in silence?
A much underused remedy may be available if she is a local authority tenant or that of a registered social landlord. It is a remedy which has many advantages and is given under section 153A of the Housing Act 1996. This Act gives local authorities the power to obtain court injunctions to prevent domestic violence in the context of their housing management function. In passing the Act parliament decreed that Local authorities can