Citation, extent and interpretation

regulation 1 + 1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 9 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

(3) In these Regulations—

regulation 1 3 a + (a)term the act + “the Act” means the Domestic Abuse Act 2021;

regulation 1 3 b + (b)a reference to a section, Part or Schedule by number alone means the section, Part or Schedule so numbered in the Act;

regulation 1 3 c + (c)“the No. 6 Regulations” means the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024(2);

regulation 1 3 d + (d)“the No. 8 Regulations” means the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 8 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025(3);

regulation 1 3 e + (e)term specified areas + “specified areas” means the counties of the Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Flintshire and the county boroughs of Conwy and Wrexham;

regulation 1 3 f + (f)term specified period + “specified period” means the period beginning with 28th April 2025 and ending with 26th November 2025.

Commencement of Part 3

regulation 2 + 2.  In so far as not already in force, Part 3 (powers for dealing with domestic abuse), except section 55 (repeal of provisions about domestic violence protection notices and orders), comes into force on 28th April 2025 for the specified period in relation to the specified areas.

Savings

regulation 3 + 3.—(1) Where immediately before the end of the specified period—

regulation 3 1 a + (a)a DAPN is in effect,

regulation 3 1 b + (b)an application for leave to apply for a DAPO has been made and is yet to be determined,

regulation 3 1 c + (c)an application for a DAPO has been made and is yet to be determined,

regulation 3 1 d + (d)proceedings, as specified in section 31, have been issued and are yet to be concluded, or

regulation 3 1 e + (e)a DAPO is in effect,

Part 3, except section 55 and the provisions of the Act specified in regulation 3(2) of the No. 6 Regulations, continues to have effect in the relevant areas for the purposes set out in the second column of the table in paragraph (2).

(2) The table referred to in paragraph (1) is—

(3) The provisions of the Act specified in regulation 3(2) of the No. 6 Regulations continue to have effect in England and Wales after the specified period in relation to a DAPN or DAPO given or made under Part 3—

regulation 3 3 a + (a)during the period beginning with 27th November 2024 and ending with 26th November 2025, or

regulation 3 3 b + (b)as it continues to have effect in accordance with the savings provided for in paragraphs (1) and (2).

(4) In this regulation—

term dapn + “DAPN” means a domestic abuse protection notice within the meaning of section 22;

term dapo + “DAPO” means a domestic abuse protection order within the meaning of section 27;

term relevant areas + “relevant areas” means—

Omission of savings provision in the No. 6 Regulations and the No. 8 Regulations

regulation 4 + 4.—(1) In the No. 6 Regulations, omit regulation 4 (savings).

(2) In the No. 8 Regulations, omit regulation 4 (savings).

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are the ninth commencement regulations made under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c. 17) (“the Act”) that extend only to England and Wales. They bring into force Part 3 of the Act (which establishes a new domestic abuse protection notice and domestic abuse protection order), in so far as not already in force, on a piloted basis on 28th April 2025. Regulation 2 brings into force Part 3 of the Act, except section 55 (which repeals domestic violence protection notices and domestic violence protection orders), in the counties of the Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Flintshire and the county boroughs of Conwy and Wrexham (“the specified areas”) for the period beginning with 28th April 2025 and ending with 26th November 2025.

Regulation 3(1) provides for the provisions of Part 3 to continue to have effect after 26th November 2025 in the specified areas in the cases referred to in accordance with paragraph (2) of that regulation. Regulation 3(1) and (3) also makes provision relating to the commencement made by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/1191 (C. 76)) and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 8 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/319 (C. 10)) by correcting defects in the savings provisions made in those instruments. Regulation 4 accordingly omits the savings provisions in those instruments.

An impact assessment has not been published for these Regulations as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen arising from the provisions these Regulations bring into force. An impact assessment has been published in relation to the Act which does consider the impact of DAPOs and copies can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ, or from this website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1007463/DA_Act_2021_Impact_Assessment.pdf.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT Regulations

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The following provisions of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c. 17) have been brought into force in England and Wales by commencement regulations made before the date of these Regulations.