Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) — the new order explained

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01

Alongside the familiar non-molestation and occupation orders, England and Wales has a newer protective order: the Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO), created by Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. It is designed to be more flexible and longer-lasting than the old Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO), and it can be applied for by the police or by you in the family court. This guide explains what DAPOs are, who can apply, and how — using the official gov.uk guidance. It is not legal advice.

Status you must know: DAPOs (and their police-issued cousins, Domestic Abuse Protection Notices — DAPNs) are being rolled out in pilot areas first. Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement) Regulations, the pilot provisions — due to end in November 2025 — were extended by regulations made in November 2025 to run to 31 March 2026, and the pilot may have moved on since. Check the current gov.uk DAPO guidance (linked below) for the live list of areas and courts before relying on anything here.

What a DAPO can do

A DAPO can prohibit a perpetrator from doing things (for example, being near you or contacting you) and — unlike a DVPO — can also impose positive requirements, such as attending a behaviour-change programme. Key features under the Act and official guidance:

Made under Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (sections 22–56).
Available whether or not there is a "domestic relationship" of the traditional kind — the definition of domestic abuse in the Act applies.
Flexible duration — the length and requirements are tailored to the victim's needs rather than a fixed short maximum.
Breach is a criminal offence.

Who can apply for a DAPO

Under section 28 of the Act, a DAPO can be applied for by:

The victim (aged 16 or over);
A chief officer of police (in the pilot, forces in participating areas, plus the British Transport Police; the Ministry of Defence Police joins on national rollout);
A person specified in regulations; or
Any other person with the leave of the court.

Two routes exist in practice: 1. Police-led: report domestic abuse to the police and ask them to issue a DAPN (an immediate, short-notice notice) or apply for a DAPO on your behalf. 2. Family court (self-application): apply yourself in a family court using form DA1 with a supporting witness statement. If you are applying on behalf of someone else, you also need form DA2.

The pilot-area rule

During the pilot, you can only apply for a DAPO if the person you need protection from lives in a participating area. Areas announced so far under the pilot include:

From 27 November 2024: Greater Manchester and the London boroughs of Croydon, Bromley and Sutton (the British Transport Police can also apply).
From 5 March 2025: Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees.
From 28 April 2025: North Wales (Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham).

Importantly, it is the perpetrator's residence that matters, not yours — a victim anywhere can apply so long as the perpetrator lives in a pilot area. Applications go only to the family courts listed on the official guidance page (for example, if the perpetrator lives in Sutton you can apply in Croydon or Bromley). If the perpetrator does not live in a pilot area — or you cannot travel — you can instead apply for a non-molestation or occupation order at your local family court (see our FL401 guides).

How to apply in the family court

Per the official HMCTS guidance:

Complete form DA1 and a supporting witness statement (and form DA2 if applying on someone else's behalf).
There are no court fees for applying, for varying, or for discharging a DAPO.
After the court accepts the application, it must be served on the other person — unless the court agrees to hear the case without notice to them first (used where telling them first could put you at risk).
You must not serve the application or order yourself. If you have no legal representation, complete form D89 to ask a court official to serve it, and send it with your application.
Once service happens, confirm it to the court with form DA415.

Varying or discharging a DAPO

Either party can apply to vary or discharge an order while it is in force, using form DA3, sent to the family court that made the order. Again, no court fee.

How a DAPO differs from a non-molestation order

Non-molestation (FL401): available everywhere in England and Wales; made under the Family Law Act 1996; you can apply yourself at your local family court. Stays familiar territory.
DAPO: currently pilot-areas-only; can impose positive requirements (programmes, behaviour change) as well as prohibitions; police can start one without you applying; no court fees; designed eventually to replace the DVPO (a 28-day police-obtained order) on national rollout.
Both can be applied for urgently, and other protective orders (non-molestation, occupation, restraining orders, Stalking Protection Orders) remain available — a DAPO does not replace them during the pilot.

If you need protection now

Emergency: call 999.
Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24/7, freephone): 0808 2000 247
Non-emergency police: 101.
If a DAPO is not available in your area, our FL401 guide and non-molestation order guide cover the orders you can apply for at any family court in England and Wales.

Please use a safe device. Browsing history, messages and app activity can be monitored on a device an abuser can access. Use a trusted device, a friend's phone, or a library computer when researching or applying.

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS, the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office or gov.uk. This page is general information and is not legal advice.

Official sources (gov.uk):

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.