Better protection for victims of domestic abuse

According to the recent ONS data, an estimated 2.3 million people aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024 in UK – this includes 1.6 million women and over 700,000 men. The police recorded 851,062 domestic abuse-related crimes, which accounted for 15.8% of all offences. 

What are the new protective measures?

Robust new measures have recently been brought in to enhance protections for victims of domestic abuse. These measures, which include Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPNs) and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs), aim to provide immediate and long-term safety for victims, covering all forms of domestic abuse, which includes physical and psychological abuse, and coercive control.

One of the key features of these new measures is the ability for police to issue DAPNs immediately following an incident of abuse. This provides instant protection for victims and allows the police time to apply for a DAPO, which offers longer-term safety. 

The new orders can be requested by victims, their relatives, friends, or the police, which lessens the necessity for victims to engage directly with the criminal justice system. This is crucial as the process can be overwhelming for many survivors. Furthermore, DAPOs can impose positive obligations on abusers, such as participating in behaviour change programmes. For the first time, family courts can also enforce electronic tagging in severe cases. There are no set time limits for DAPOs, which means that they can be put in place for as long as they are required.

A breach of DAPO will be a criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in prison, ensuring that perpetrators who violate these orders face serious consequences.

The pilot and the plan

These measures are currently being piloted in Greater Manchester, three London boroughs, and with the British Transport Police. The pilot will expand to Cleveland and North Wales in early 2025, with a national rollout planned thereafter. The government aims to use the pilot to gather evidence on the effectiveness of these measures and ensure they are fully funded and resourced for national implementation.

The introduction of these measures is part of the government’s broader commitment to halve violence against women and girls within the next decade. Ministers have emphasised the importance of making it easier for victims to seek help and ensuring that the powers available to the courts are more stringent than ever before. The Government’s approach includes embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms to ensure calls for help are treated with the urgency they deserve. 

These new measures represent a significant step forward in protecting victims of domestic abuse, by providing immediate and long-term protection, reducing the burden on victims, and ensuring abusers face tougher restrictions.

We have a specialist team of lawyers who are able to support and advise you if you are impacted by domestic abuse. Contact us to find out more about our Family team's extensive experience of advising on matters involving domestic abuse.