PART 3

Powers for dealing with domestic abuse

Domestic abuse protection orders

Domestic abuse protection orders otherwise than on application
31
1
A court may make a domestic abuse protection order under this section in any of the cases set out below.

Family proceedings
2
The High Court or the family court may make a domestic abuse protection order against a person (“P”) in any family proceedings to which both P and the person for whose protection the order would be made are parties.

Criminal proceedings
3
Where a person (“P”) has been convicted of an offence, the court dealing with P for that offence may (as well as sentencing P or dealing with P in any other way) make a domestic abuse protection order against P.
4
But subsection (3) does not apply where the Court of Appeal is dealing with a person for an offence.
5
A court by or before which a person is acquitted of an offence may make a domestic abuse protection order against the person.
6
Where the Crown Court allows a person's appeal against a conviction for an offence, the Crown Court may make a domestic abuse protection order against the person.

Civil proceedings
7
The county court may make a domestic abuse protection order against a person (“P”) in any relevant proceedings to which both P and the person for whose protection the order would be made are parties.
8
In subsection (7) “relevant proceedings” means proceedings of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.
S. 31 in force at 5.3.2025 until the end of the specified period on 26.11.2025 in relation to the specified area by S.I. 2025/261, regs. 1(2)(f), 2, 3 (with reg. 4)
S. 31 in force at 11.3.2025 until the end of the specified period on 31.3.2026 in relation to the specified areas by S.I. 2025/319, regs. 1(2)(f), 2, 3 (with reg. 4) (as amended (21.11.2025) by S.I. 2025/1222, regs. 1(2), 3)
S. 31 in force at 27.11.2024 until the end of the specified period on 31.3.2026 in relation to specified areas by S.I. 2024/1191, regs. 1(2)(g), 2, 3(1) (with reg. 4) (as amended (21.11.2025) by S.I. 2025/1222, regs. 1(2), 2)
S. 31 in force at 28.4.2025 until the end of the specified period on 31.3.2026 in relation to the specified areas by S.I. 2025/515, regs. 1(3)(e)(f), 2 (with reg. 3) (as amended (21.11.2025) by S.I. 2025/1222, regs. 1(2), 4)