Domestic abusers to face tougher restrictions as new protective orders launched

Domestic abusers will be subject to more stringent controls with the introduction of new court orders designed to prevent them from contacting their victims.

The new domestic abuse protection notices and orders (DAPNs and DAPOs), which were legislated for by the previous government in 2021, will initially be piloted in parts of England and Wales before a nationwide implementation. According to Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs, these orders can be issued by any court and amalgamate existing powers in other protective orders to offer "flexible and long-term protection" for those suffering from domestic abuse. They aim to encompass all types of domestic abuse and, unlike some orders that expire after 28 days, they will not be limited by time constraints.

Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, commented: "More than two million people are estimated to have experienced domestic abuse in the last year – a number that is appalling, frightening and we are determined to change.

"That’s why one of our first acts against our ambitious manifesto pledge to halve violence against women and girls in a decade is to launch new, strengthened domestic abuse protection orders. By bringing together the strongest elements of existing orders into a flexible order that covers all forms of domestic abuse and has no time limit, we’ll ensure more victims receive the robust protection they deserve."

In addition to establishing exclusion zones, these orders can also mandate abusers to participate in behaviour change programmes. Violating the terms of an order will be considered a criminal offence, with offenders facing up to five years in prison.

Family courts will now have the power to enforce tagging for up to 12 months in severe cases, a measure that was previously only available through criminal courts or police intervention. A new feature allows the friends and family of victims to apply for an order on their behalf.

These new orders will initially be tested in Greater Manchester, three London boroughs, and by the British Transport Police. Further trials are planned in Cleveland and North Wales in early 2025, before a nationwide rollout.

According to the crime survey for England and Wales, conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 2.3 million people aged 16 and over (1.6 million women and 712,000 men) experienced domestic abuse in the most recent 12-month period. The findings suggested there was "no statistically significant change in the prevalence of domestic abuse experienced in the last year, compared with the previous year".