AQW 33174/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 09/10/2025
Answered On Date: 21/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice to outline the timeline for the implementation of the provisions for (i) Domestic Abuse Protection Orders; and (ii) Domestic Abuse Protection Notices, legislated for under the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021.

Answer:

Protecting victims of domestic abuse and holding perpetrators to account remain key priorities for me as Minister of Justice. The introduction of Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPNs and DAPOs) will represent a new safeguard for victims, allowing for immediate protection in cases where there is a risk of abusive behaviour.

Department of Justice officials, in partnership with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, continue to progress detailed work to develop a DAPN/O model that is both effective and sustainable within the Northern Ireland context. This work is taking account of operational capacity across the justice system, estimated costs, and, crucially, the needs and safety of victims.

To inform the design of the Northern Ireland model, officials have undertaken fact-finding visits to pilot areas in England, including Croydon and shortly, Greater Manchester, to gather learning from their experiences. Roundtable discussions have also been held with voluntary and community sector partners, whose expertise and on-the-ground insight have helped to inform the development of a model that will work in practice and deliver meaningful improved protection for victims of domestic abuse. Continued engagement is also taking place with officials in Scotland, who are facing similar challenges in the development and implementation of the approach in that jurisdiction.

Given the issues that have been encountered in developing the DAPN / DAPO model, including uncertainties around the scale of qualifying cases, I have concluded that it is essential to undertake a Northern Ireland pilot before wider roll-out. This will allow for a robust assessment of operational processes, the scale of demand, and the associated cost and resource implications across agencies.

The aim is to agree a preferred pilot model with delivery partners by the end of this financial year. Subject to that agreement, it is anticipated that a pilot could commence during the second half of 2026/27. The learning from that pilot will inform decisions on future roll-out and ensure that when DAPN/Os are introduced, they will deliver real, practical and sustainable protection for victims of domestic abuse across Northern Ireland.