878 The Protection Against Domestic Violence Bill, 2013 MEMORANDUM OF OBJECTS AND REASONS This Bill, which has been submitted to the Committee by the Attorney-General, seeks t1J recognize that domestic violence in all its forms is unacceptable behaviour, to provide for the intervention of the courts to reduce and prevent violence in domestic relationships and to ensure that where domestic violence occurs, there is effective legal protection and relief for its victims. The Bill makes provision for the protection and relief of victims of domestic violence and the protection of a spouse, child and any dependents. The Bill defines the terms domestic violence, domestic relationship and family member. Part II of the Bill sets out the duties of police officers in relation to domestic violence. It provides for application for protection orders by a person who is or has been in a domestic relationship with the respondent. It also provides that any person who is or has been in a domestic relationship with another person may apply to court for a protection order in respect of that other person. The Part also provides for application for a protection order by a child or a person who is unable by reason of physical or mental intellect through a parent or guardian, a childrens officer, the Director of Childre_n Services or a police officer. The Part empowers the court to issue protection orders if it is satisfied that the respondent has used domestic violence against the applicant or a child of the applicant's family, or both and that the order is necessary for the protection of such applicant or child. The Part further sets out the standard contents of a protection order which order bars the respondent from engaging in any conduct constituting domestic violence, including physically or sexually abusing a protected person, damaging or threatening to damage any property, intimidating the protected person or engaging in economic abuse or cultural or customary rites or practices that abuse the protected person. The respondent may, in exceptional circumstances and as a temporary measure, be excluded from the shared residence or a specified part thereof, if the court is satisfied that there is no other way of securing the personal safety of any protected person for the time being.