Keeping yourself and your children safe from violence.
For more information, contact Manitoba Justice, Victim Services Branch at
1-866-484-2849. Toll free Province-Wide Domestic
Abuse Crisis Line (24 hours) 1-877-977-0007. |
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The Protection Plan
What is a protection plan?
A protection plan will help you and your children get to a safe place when you are in
danger. The plan will include where to go, and what you need to take with you, if
youre forced to leave your home to escape from a violent partner.
When do you need a
protection plan?
- If you are in an abusive relationship
When you are living within the
cycle of
abuse”, you need to be prepared to get yourself and your children to safety
when you feel tension building.
- If you have recently left an abusive relationship
If you remain in the family home, it is possible your partner may return and threaten or
assault you again. Even if you have obtained a court order, that is no guarantee that the
abuser will stay away.
If you leave the family home, your partner may search for you, and threaten or assault
you.
The Cycle of Abuse (and its role in the protection plan)
Violence in abusive relationships follows what is known as a
cycle of abuse”. An assault is
usually followed by a period of justification or calm, where the abuse
either rationalizes his/her behaviour or feels and acts sorry about
the attack. Although both partners may try to make the
relationship continue in a normal way by pretending that everything
is alright, tension begins to build again. It is during the
build-up phase that the chances of assault are much greater.
The safest and surest way to protection yourself (and your children)
is to put some distance between you and your partner during these
high-risk times. (See the
Cycle of Violence fact sheet.)
Elements of a Protection Plan
Remember each protection plan is unique, because each persons circumstances
are unique. The most important thing is your safety and the safety of your children.
1) Be aware of the signs that tell you an assault is about
to take place.
Every abusive person has a different set of signs that indirectly tells the partner an
incident is about to happen. Being aware of these signs can help
people in an abusive relationship know when they will be at risk.
It is important to trust your instincts.
Answering the following questions will help you figure out what signs to look for:
- What does your partner do or say in the period before an incident?
- Does alcohol play a role in the violence towards you?
- Is there a predictable time between incidents? When was the last
incident and when can you
expect the next one?
- Are there other indicators an incident is about to happen? Examples may include
unemployment, pregnancy and money troubles.
2) Be aware of things the abuser can use
to hurt you.
- Be aware of where guns, knives and other weapons are stored.
- Find "safe places" where there are fewer dangerous things.
Try to stay out of the kitchen, garage or workshop.
3) Decide on a safe place you can go
with your children
This might be a crisis shelter, the home of a friend or relative, a
hotel, or any other place in which you can be safe. Be aware
of who lives in your area. If you cannot leave your home, is
there a room or area of your home where you can be safe? Tell
your neighbours about the situation and request that they call the
police if they see the abuser, or hear suspicious noises coming from
your house.
4) Decide how you will get there.
Decide what transportation you
will use to get to a safe place. If you have a car, hide a spare
key and keep a full tank of gas. If not, who can help you get to your
place of safety? You might arrange for a friend, neighbour or
relative to pick you up when the time comes. You may also want to
keep some money with friends, so that when you feel threatened, you can
leave quickly by taxi even if you have no cash on you. The police
or Domestic Abuse Crisis Line may be able to help you plan your
transportation.
5) Decide how you will escape from your
home if an attack is about to happen.
Find out if there is a door or window you can use for escape, if
necessary, and whether your children can also be taken out through
these exits. Make sure that once you leave the home, you know
immediately where to go. Find out beforehand where the nearest
public phone is. Memorize any emergency numbers you may need
(i.e., crisis shelter, police, social worker, etc.)
6) Decide what to take when you leave.
Do not stay behind to take any belongings if it endangers you
or your children. If possible,
do not leave your children. If you are in immediate
danger and need to leave them, return as soon as possible, with the
police if necessary.
BEFORE YOU RETURN TO YOUR HOME, MAKE
SURE IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU, IF YOU ARE
IN DOUBT.
Additional Tips:
- Put some money away in a safe place - a little at a time
- Change computer passwords to ensure confidential information
remains secure
- Teach your children how to contact police
If you are not in immediate danger, you should pack the following
useful items:
- identification for you and your children - such as birth
certificates, your social insurance number, driver's license,
immigration papers or treaty card, health care band numbers,
passports
- legal documents - your mortgage or lease, or information
about loans or assets you have, a copy of a protection order,
custody orders
- address book
- credit cards, ATM card, checks, bank book
- keys - for your house, car and safety deposit box (if you
have one)
- personal items - clothing and toiletries
- medications you or your children are taking
- things for your children - clothing, favourite toys,
medicine, diapers or bottles
Remember - safety for you and your children is most important
7) If an assault occurs, contact the
police.
If you do not have a phone
think of where you can access one.
For more information, contact:
Manitoba Justice
Victim Services Branch
1-866-484-2846
Toll-Free Province-Wide
Domestic Abuse Crisis Line (24 hours)
1-877-977-0007
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This document is also available in PDF.
Protection
Plan for People in Abusive Relationships
(170 Kb PDF)
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