Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders — emergency police-led protection
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01
What they are
Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs) and Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) are emergency protection tools that the police — not the victim — can use when someone has been violent toward, or has threatened violence against, a person they are associated with (partner, ex-partner, family member).
How the process works
1. DVPN: a senior police officer issues a notice on the spot after attending an incident. It takes effect immediately and can prohibit the perpetrator from molesting the victim and from entering the home for up to 48 hours. 2. DVPO: within 48 hours, the police must go to a magistrates' court to ask for a DVPO. If granted, the order lasts between 14 and 28 days. 3. A breach of a DVPO is not contempt but a criminal offence — arrestable, punishable by a fine or imprisonment. The police enforce it; the victim does not have to go to court.
How DVPNs/DVPOs differ from civil orders
| | DVPO | Non-molestation order | |---|---|---| | Who applies | Police | The victim (or their solicitor) | | Where | Magistrates' court | Family court | | Duration | 14–28 days (emergency) | Typically 6–12 months, renewable | | Breach | Criminal offence | Criminal offence and/or contempt |
DVPOs fill the gap between a 999 call and a family court application: they give the victim breathing space to apply for a longer-lasting non-molestation order or to make safety arrangements. They are not a substitute for one.
If police give the perpetrator a DVPN against you as the victim
- Make sure you have the officer's details and the notice reference.
- Tell the police where you actually are staying if different from the home address, so protection follows you.
- Use the 14–28 day window to get a non-molestation order (free to apply for) — see our domestic abuse guides.
- If you are accused, legal advice before the 48-hour DVPO hearing is important; you can make representations and legal aid may be available.
Official links
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-violence-protection-orders
- https://www.gov.uk/injunction-domestic-violence (non-molestation overview)
- https://www.police.uk/ (contact your force)
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS, the police or 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.