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Written question asked by Adrian Ramsay (Green Party) on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 January 2026. It was answered by Jess Phillips (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 January 2026 on behalf of the Home Office.

Domestic Abuse Protection Orders

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to ensure the effectiveness of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders; and how this will be monitored.

Answer

Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) are currently live in Greater Manchester, three London boroughs (Croydon, Bromley and Sutton), Cleveland, North Wales, and with the British Transport Police. These orders combine the strongest elements of the existing protective order regime into a single comprehensive, flexible tool. DAPOs can impose notification requirements, electronic monitoring and attendance to a behaviour change programme. Breach of a DAPO is a criminal offence punishable by up to 5 years’ imprisonment.

To assess their effectiveness, we have commissioned an independent evaluation of DAPOs to assess how they are working in practice. During this pilot phase, we are closely monitoring the police and courts’ performance as part of the ongoing evaluation. We will use the evaluation findings to help inform the wider rollout of DAPOs and help ensure DAPOs provide effective protection for victims.

Since their launch, more than 1,000 DAPOs have been issued across England and Wales, strengthening protections for victims of all forms of domestic abuse. As set out in the government’s new VAWG Strategy, we are committed to rolling out DAPOs nationally across England and Wales.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
105545
Session
2024-26
Related items
Subjects
Domestic abuse protection orders
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk