s 3A Emergency protection order
(1) A social welfare officer duly authorized in writing by the Director General may, in an application involving a complaint of domestic violence referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of “domestic violence” under section 2, issue an emergency protection order. (2) An application for an emergency protection order may be made at any time whether or not an interim protection order or a protection order has been previously made or an application for an interim protection order or a protection order is still pending. (3) An application for an emergency protection order shall be made ex-parte by— (a) the victim; (b) the victim’s counsel; or (c) in the case where the victim is a child or an incapacitated adult, the guardian, relative or person responsible for the care of such child or incapacitated adult, or a social welfare officer other than an authorized social welfare officer. (4) An application for an emergency protection order may be made in any district where— (a) the victim resides; (b) the person against whom the protection is sought resides; (c) the alleged domestic violence occurred; or (d) the victim is placed temporarily. (5) Upon receipt of the application for an emergency protection order, the application shall be heard by the authorized social welfare officer immediately and the issuance of the emergency protection order, if any, shall be made, where practicable, within two hours after the application is made. (6) For the purpose of an application for an emergency protection order, a police report relating to the domestic violence is not required. (7) The authorized social welfare officer, in making an emergency protection order under subsection (1), may issue one or more of the following orders: (a) prohibiting the person against whom the order is made from using domestic violence referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of “domestic violence” under section 2 against his or her spouse or former spouse, a child, an incapacitated adult or any other member of the family, as the case may be; (b) prohibiting the person against whom the order is made from inciting any other person to commit domestic violence referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of “domestic violence” under section 2 against his or her spouse or former spouse, a child, an incapacitated adult or any other member of the family, as the case may be; or (c) prohibiting the person against whom the order is made from entering any protected person’s safe place, shelter, place of residence, shared residence or alternative residence, as the case may be. (8) An emergency protection order shall be valid for the period of seven days from the date of issuance of the order, and enforceable when a copy of the order is served on the person against whom the order is made in accordance with section 3B. (9) The emergency protection order issued shall not be affected by the issuance of an interim protection order or a protection order.