Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO)

What is a Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO)?

This order can stop someone who has been abusive from doing a range of harmful things for a set period of time, such as:

• Contacting or coming near you
• Harassing or intimidating you
• Making threats of any kind
• Posting things online or on social media that cause you distress

What makes this order special is that it can be put in place no matter which part of the system a case happens to come through. This means people can be protected more easily, whatever path their situation has taken.

Who Can Apply?

This kind of order came about because of a recent set of changes, brought in to help build a society that simply does not accept abuse at home. These changes have strengthened the support and protection available to people, and brought public services and support systems closer together to respond better.

This order is gradually replacing an older type of order that worked in a similar way, offering people a stronger and longer lasting form of protection instead.

Background

This way of offering protection first started being tried out in 2024, in the Greater Manchester area and the London Borough of Lewisham. As things move forward, this is expected to spread to more areas across England and Wales over time.

Our team at CDA keeps a close eye on these changes, and we are ready to guide you as more areas gain access to this kind of protection.

How Does CDA Help?

Our team always stays up to date with the latest ways people can be protected. Whether or not this particular order is available where you live yet, we can help you find the most suitable kind of protection for your situation, including the other options we support people with.

There is no hassle at all for using our service, and we are with you throughout the whole process.