Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPNs) and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) will be available from this week if the victim lives in the piloted areas.
DAPNs are legally binding and will be issued by the police to perpetrators to give victims immediate protection, and contain specific instructions such as staying away from the victim’s home. Failure to follow a DAPN could result in arrest and an appearance before a magistrates’ court.
If the police issue a DAPN, they will apply for a DAPO, which will be heard by a magistrate within 48 hours, if possible. The British Transport Police will also be able to apply for a DAPO, under the pilot. A DAPO imposes restrictions and conditions on a perpetrator of domestic abuse, for example, tagging them or forbidding them from coming within a specified distance of the victim’s home.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson welcomed the protections but warned ‘safeguards must always be fair.
‘There could be serious consequences for perpetrators who breach these orders, so they must be made aware of what the orders mean for them and be able to receive legal advice and representation. For this to happen without delays for the victims, the government should provide sufficient legal aid funding before implementing these intended protections.’
