Three police forces, Metropolitan, Greater Manchester and British Transport, have started trialling new Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders. A DAPN will be issued by police on a perpetrator to provide immediate protection to victims, followed by a DAPO application to magistrates, to be heard usually within 48 hours.
Subject to sufficient evidence, the court will grant the order to protect victims from all forms of domestic abuse. Magistrates may impose restrictions on the perpetrator, such as electronic monitoring (tagging) to ensure they stay a specified distance from the victim’s home and ordering them to attend a behaviour change programme.
Unlike existing measures, a DAPO has no maximum duration. Breaching them can lead to up to five years in prison and a fine. The Metropolitan Police’s pilot scheme will last two years in the boroughs of Sutton, Croydon and Bromley.
NCDV welcome the pilot and hope to remain an ally to police and other agencies by assisting with this area of work nationally.
