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What is an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO)?
An Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) is a legally enforceable order made to protect one or more people named on the order from violence, intimidation or harassment. The purpose of the order is to prevent harm and keep people safe. It sets out rules about what the defendant must not do. Some conditions apply to all orders, such not assaulting, stalking, or harassing the protected person, while other conditions are only applied when they are considered appropriate, such as not approaching the protected person for up to 12 hours after consuming alcohol. An AVO is not a criminal conviction, but breaching an AVO is a criminal offence.
In NSW an ADVO can last for however long the court considers necessary and can be indefinite. The default duration for an ADVO is two years for an adult defendant, and one year for a defendant under 18 years of age. In NSW 85% of final ADVOs are for a period of two or more years.
There are two types of AVOs in NSW: domestic and personal. A Domestic AVO (ADVO) is used when the person needing protection has a domestic relationship with the other person. This can include a spouse or de facto partner, an ex‑partner, a family member, a carer, or someone who lives or has lived in the same household. Domestic AVOs account for approximately 85% of all AVOs in NSW.
Data file: Apprehended Violence Orders statistics (XLSX, 815.2 KB)
Infographic: Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders in NSW (PDF, 264.1 KB)
1. Trends in ADVOs commenced over time
ADVOs commenced have grown steadily over the past decade, increasing by around 5% per year on average. The chart below shows trends in the number and rate of ADVOs across Local Government Areas over the past 10 years.
2. Trends in ADVO breach rate
An ADVO breach occurs when a defendant breaks any of the conditions of the order. The ADVO breach rate measures the proportion of defendants with an ADVO in force who are proceeded against by NSW Police for breaching the order. Over the past eight years, the ADVO breach rate has remained stable. The chart below shows the trend in the number and proportion of ADVOs that have ever been breached.
3. Regional comparison of ADVOs commenced in NSW
The first map show rate per 100,000 population and numbers of persons protected by an ADVO by where the protected person lived at the time the order commenced. The second map shows ADVOs commenced by where the defendant lived at the time the order commenced. The highest rates are in Regional NSW.
4. Characteristics of persons protected by ADVOs
A protected person (also called a person in need of protection) is the person the ADVO is meant to keep safe. Children of an adult protected by an ADVO are also listed as protected persons. Two thirds of adult protected by an ADVO were female.
5. Characteristics of ADVO defendants
The defendant is the person against whom the order is made or sought. Two thirds of ADVO defendants were male.
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