Articles
Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally
DADSS Articles summary: The UK is rolling out Child Focused Courts nationwide across England and Wales to speed up family court decisions and strengthen child protection. Building on successful pilots that halved backlogs and resolved cases up to seven and a half months sooner, the model aims to reduce the trauma caused by lengthy, adversarial proceedings. Earlier risk identification-particularly around domestic abuse-combined with streamlined processes is intended to deliver faster, safer outcomes for children and families.
Domestic Abuse Protection Orders Expand Across England and Wales
Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) are expanding across England and Wales under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, introducing strengthened protections intended to improve victim safety. As their use increases, legal professionals continue to assess how these powers are applied in practice and the impact on already pressured family and criminal courts.
Key Facts
DADSS Articles - Key Facts: The Act introduces two new civil protective measures to strengthen responses to domestic abuse: Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPNs) for immediate, police-issued protection, and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) for longer-term, flexible safeguarding. DAPNs can provide rapid post-incident protection, including requiring a perpetrator to leave the victim’s home for up to 48 hours.