A national pilot scheme has been rolled out to Cleveland in respect of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs). DAPO is new civil order that will be available in family, civil, and criminal courts through a variety of application routes. A DAPO brings together the strongest elements from existing protective orders into a new single order, to provide more protection for the victim and placing greater restrictions on the perpetrator. A DAPO can impose positive requirements, such as a requirement for the perpetrator to attend a behaviour change programme, or to wear an electronic tag.
Every DAPO will require the perpetrator to notify their name and address to the Police within three days of being served with the DAPO. If they fail to do this, then they will be in breach of the DAPO which is a criminal offence.
If the perpetrator resides in the Cleveland Police Force area, an application for a DAPO should now be made rather than an application for a Non-Molestation Order. If the Respondent resides outside of the Cleveland Police area, then a Non-Molestation Order should be applied for in the usual way.
The family court will take applications for DAPOs from victims, as well as from third parties. Third parties can be any individual or organisation to whom the family court have granted leave to apply. This could include local authorities or the Police.
Miss Mollie Hall, a Solicitor within our family department, made the first application for a Domestic Abuse Protection Order in the Cleveland area following the implementation of the pilot scheme.
To speak to Mollie, or a member of our Family department about a DAPO, get in touch today.
