The following National Spousal Abuse FAQs are provided by the Legal Studies Program.

Funded by the Department of Justice Canada.

Warning: 

The contents of these FAQs are intended as general legal information only. If you have
a personal problem, please consult a lawyer.



What can the police do if things have calmed down when they arrive?

The police can arrest the violent spouse even if they do not witness the assault as long as they 
have reasonable and probable grounds for believing an offence has occurred. The policies of 
police forces vary, but many police forces now take the position that charges must be laid in 
cases of domestic abuse if supported by evidence.