uk Legal, police, prison & official contact notice you must not contact someone • told you cannot communicate • no contact order notice • restraining order contact ban • non-molestation order served • bail condition no contact • prohibited from messaging them • told not to call or text • indirect contact not allowed • third party message risk • unwanted prisoner contact • stop prisoner contact request • official order restricting contact • served with court order • order says stay away • protected person contacts you first • confusion about allowed contact • communication restriction letter • told to avoid a person

What to do if…
you receive a notice that your communication with someone is restricted by an official order

Short answer

Stop all direct and indirect contact immediately, and get clarity from a solicitor or the issuing authority before you do anything that could be classed as contact.

Do not do these things

Do not reply to the person “just to explain” or “to sort it out” — that can be treated as contact.
Do not ask friends/family to pass on messages, gifts, apologies, or “checking in” — indirect contact is often covered.
Do not rely on what the other person says (“it’s fine”, “I consent”, “I invited you”) — the written order/conditions are what matter.
Do not “test the boundary” (liking posts, reacting, tagging, drive-bys, turning up “by coincidence”).
Do not destroy messages, call logs, letters, or the notice — keep a clean record.
Do not assume it’s only about one channel (e.g., “just WhatsApp”) unless the notice explicitly limits it.

What to do now

Freeze contact across every channel you control.
Stop calls, texts, emails, DMs, comments, likes/reactions, gaming chat, shared apps, and in-person contact. Block/mute if it helps you avoid accidental contact.
Read the notice like a checklist and identify what it is.
On paper, write down: (a) the issuing body (court / police bail paperwork / prison / probation), (b) the exact people covered, (c) what counts as contact (direct/indirect), (d) any distance/exclusion zone, (e) any exceptions (children, legal reps), and (f) the start/end date or next hearing date.
If anything is unclear, treat it as “no contact at all” until clarified.
Save proof and create a simple “compliance log.”
Keep a copy/photo/PDF of the notice. Make a dated note of when you received it and what you did immediately (blocked numbers, changed settings, informed household members). This is for your protection if there’s later confusion.
If the restricted person contacts you first: do not respond.
Don’t answer, don’t react, don’t forward it to them, don’t ask them to stop. Save it. If you’re worried about allegations or confusion, show it to your solicitor and follow their advice.
If you need essential communication (children, shared home, urgent property/finances), only use a clearly permitted channel.
Look for an explicit allowance in the notice/order (for example, communication via solicitors only, or via a named third party). If there is no clear allowance, do not invent one — ask a solicitor about applying to vary/clarify the order/conditions.
Contact the right “gatekeeper” for clarification/changes (same day if possible).
- If it’s a restraining order or other criminal court order: contact your solicitor (or duty solicitor if you have one) and ask them to confirm the exact wording and what to do if you need a variation.
- If it’s a bail condition (set by police or the court): contact your solicitor promptly and ask what the paperwork means in practice, and how to request a change (if appropriate).
- If it’s family court-related (e.g., non-molestation order): contact a family solicitor; ask specifically what counts as “indirect” contact and how child-related logistics should be handled.
If the notice is because someone in prison must not contact you (or you want contact to stop), use the official prison “non-contact” route.
In England & Wales, you can make a request via the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service (online form/helpline/email). Keep the notice/any contact attempts so you can provide details if asked.
If you feel unsafe or think the order is being breached against you, use the appropriate police route.
- Immediate danger: call 999.
- Not immediate: call 101. Have the order/notice wording to hand. If you’re not sure it’s legally a “breach”, report what happened and provide the wording so police can assess it.

What can wait

You do not need to decide right now whether to “fight it” or “agree to it” — first focus on not breaching it.
You do not need to draft a long explanation to the other person — sending it may itself be contact.
You do not need to collect “all the evidence” tonight — preserve what you already have and get advice.
You do not need to resolve the underlying dispute today — this is only about the first safe steps.

Important reassurance

Getting a notice like this can feel shocking and unfair, and it’s common to want to “fix it” immediately. The safest move is the boring one: stop contact, follow the wording, and use formal channels to clarify or change it.

Scope note

This covers first steps after you receive an official restriction on communicating (court order, bail condition, family court order, or prison-related non-contact restriction). It does not replace advice on the underlying case.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Orders and conditions vary, and consequences for breach can be serious. If you are unsure about any wording, act as if contact is fully prohibited until a qualified professional or the issuing authority confirms otherwise.

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What to do if…you receive a notice that your communication with someone is restricted by an official order