The Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 17 March 2021. The Bill seeks to improve the protection available for people who are at risk of abuse, particularly where they are living with the perpetrator of the abuse.
The Bill creates new types of protection notices and orders to protect people from domestic abuse such as domestic abuse protection notices (DAPNs) and domestic abuse protection orders (DAPOs).
DAPNs can be made by senior members of the police. They are a very short-term way to offer immediate protection from domestic abuse until a DAPO can be made by a court.
A DAPO can last for up to 2 months and can be extended by another month. A DAPN does not need to be in place to ask the court for a DAPO. The Bill lists all of the things a DAPN can do. This includes stopping an abuser from entering the home of the person they have abused.
The Bill is awaiting Royal Assent and will then come into force at such time as the necessary regulations are passed.
Access the Bill papers:
https://beta.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/domestic-abuse-protection-scotland-bill