The Domestic Abuse Act will be implemented later this year, bringing in important changes and defining domestic abuse in law for the first time. The Act moves away from the historical ‘hierarchical’ approach taken by the Court system, whereby physical abuse has been prioritised in terms of seriousness. 

The DAA recognises the different types of abuse, such as emotional and economic abuse, as well as coercive and controlling behaviour. 

Further changes brought in by the Act are as follows: 

• The introduction of a new role – the Domestic Abuse Commissioner (DAC), who will be an independent advocate for survivors of abuse, gathering data and providing support to organisations in the sector; 
• The requirement for Tier 1 authorities (i.e. Greater London) to provide safe accommodation to survivors of DA and their children, giving automatic priority to those who have been made homeless because of domestic abuse; 
• The introduction of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) and Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPNs). DAPOs will be similar in nature to a Non-Molestation Order, but will include rehabilitation requirements, such as the attendance on a perpetrators’ programme. These orders will be available in the Family Court as well as in Criminal and Civil Courts; 
• New Offences dealing with non-fatal strangulation and revenge porn; 
• Clarity over Special Measures for survivors of domestic abuse in Court hearings; 
• Perpetrators are banned from cross-examining survivors of domestic abuse in both Civil and Family Courts.