This Act defined domestic violence as physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, including intimidation, harassment, property damage, and threats. Abuse of a child had occurred if a person caused a child to see or hear abuse of someone with whom the child has a domestic relationship. The Act aimed to prevent violence, and recognised violence in all its forms as unacceptable behaviour. Much of the Act therefore dealt with protection orders, firearms control, and powers to enforce the attendance at programmes to help offenders to change.