Longer restraining periods reduce repeat domestic violence, Estonian police report
Since mid-April, Estonian police have been able to impose exclusion orders of up to 72 hours, and data show longer orders reduce repeat violence, though shelters report a rise in harder-to-prove psychological abuse.
Kristi Mäe, deputy director general of Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), says new rules in effect since mid-April allow police to bar abusers from the home for up to 72 hours, compared with a previous 12-hour maximum.
According to Mäe, exclusion orders have been applied in 142 cases since the change, with about 20 percent reaching the full 72 hours and 25 percent set at 48 hours. A review of individual cases showed that longer orders were linked to a lower likelihood of repeat violence.
When deciding the length of an order, police weigh factors such as whether children are involved, whether the victim will have enough time to seek help, and the timing of the incident — for instance, whether it falls on a weekend or ahead of a holiday period when support services are less accessible. Officers also assess the victim's condition and whether victim support, social services, child protection or courts will be reachable in the following days. Despite this, 12-hour orders remain the most common, reflecting a lower assessed risk of escalation.
Mäe cited two cases where a 72-hour order was used: one in southern Estonia in August involving three young children present during a confrontation, and another in Tallinn in May, where a man forced a woman out of her home following a dispute over her attending a party.
Psychological abuse remains a concern
Margo Orupõld, head of the Pärnu Women's Support Center, said the effect of the change has not yet been directly felt at his facility but views it as a positive step, giving women time to make calm decisions. He added that a bigger concern is rising psychological abuse, which is difficult to prove and often goes unreported to police.
Pille Tsopp-Pagan, head of the Women's Support and Information Center, said centers in Tartu and Põlva counties also have not seen major shifts, suggesting the longer orders may already be achieving their intended effect. The number of people needing urgent temporary shelter has not declined.
Mäe acknowledged the PPA lacks data on how often exclusion orders are violated, and current law provides no criminal penalty for breaches — only a coercive payment of up to €9,600. She noted some other countries impose exclusion orders lasting weeks rather than days, suggesting room for Estonia to strengthen its approach further.
