This Statutory Instrument has been made to clarify the pilot area specified in S.I. 2025/261 and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.
Statutory Instruments
2025 No. 319 (C. 10)
DOMESTIC ABUSE, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 8 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025
Made
10th March 2025
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 86(1) and 90(6), (7) and (8) of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021(1).
Citation, interpretation and extent
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 8 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025.
(2) In these Regulations—
(a)a reference to a section, Part or Schedule by number alone means the section, Part or Schedule so numbered in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021;
(b)a reference to a DAPO includes—
(i)an application for a DAPO or the making of a DAPO, and
(ii)an application for variation or discharge of a DAPO or the variation or discharge of a DAPO;
(c)“DAPN” means a domestic abuse protection notice within the meaning of section 22;
(d)“DAPO” means a domestic abuse protection order within the meaning of section 27;
(e)“P” means—
(i)the person to whom a DAPN is to be given or has been given, or
(ii)the person against whom a DAPO is sought or has been made;
(f)“specified period” means the period beginning with 11th March 2025 and ending with 26th November 2025.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales only.
Commencement of Part 3
2. In so far as it is not already in force, Part 3 (powers for dealing with domestic abuse), except section 55 (repeal of provisions about domestic violence protection notices and orders), comes into force on 11th March 2025 for the specified period in relation to the areas specified in regulation 3.
Commencement of Part 3 in relation to specified areas
3. Part 3, including Schedule 1, comes into force only in the non-metropolitan districts of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees.
Savings
4.—(1) Where immediately before the end of the specified period—
(a)a DAPN has been given to P,
(b)an application for leave to apply for a DAPO has been made,
(c)an application for a DAPO has been made,
(d)proceedings, as specified in section 31, have been issued, or
(e)the court has made a DAPO,
the provisions of Part 3 will continue to have effect in the areas specified in regulation 3 for the purposes set out in the second column of the table in paragraph (2).
(2) The table referred to in paragraph (1) is—
| Stage in Proceedings | Purpose |
|---|---|
| DAPN given to P | Application for DAPO may be made |
| Application for leave made | Court may grant leave and application for DAPO may be made |
| Application for DAPO made | DAPO may be made by the court |
| Proceedings specified under section 31 issued | DAPO may be made by the court on application or of its own initiative |
| DAPO made by the court | DAPO may be varied or discharged by the court, enforced on breach or appealed |
Alex Davies-Jones
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Ministry of Justice
10th March 2025