Domestic Violence Protection Notice (DVPN)

An initial notice issued by the police under sections 21 to 33 of the Crime and Security Act 2010 to provide emergency protection to an individual believed to be the victim of domestic violence. It must be authorised by a police superintendent and contains prohibitions that stop the suspected perpetrator from returning to the victim’s home or otherwise contacting the victim. It may be issued to an adult if the police superintendent has reasonable grounds for believing that the adult has been violent towards, or has threatened violence towards an associated person. The notice is necessary to protect that person from violence or a threat of violence by the intended recipient of the notice. It was piloted in three police areas in 2011–12 and introduced nationally in 2014.

Back to Glossary