When the lockdown was announced we immediately knew that this would affect children, shared parenting arrangements and increase the rate of domestic violence.

A stuff article, published today, has stated that domestic violence has increased in Canterbury by 20% already. This means that nearly one incident of family harm is reported in Canterbury every half hour. This is a staggering statistic.

It is vital that people know during this time that the police can still be called if the matter is urgent.

Urgent protection orders can be applied for and if you have any queries or would like advice around this issue the Relationships team at Cavell Leitch is here to help. We are all working remotely and are available to prepare applications on an urgent basis, keeping our clients safe from any ongoing harm.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.