Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021

1. Introductory Text

2. PART 1 Domestic abuse: offence and aggravation

   1. CHAPTER 1 Offence of domestic abuse

      1. Course of abusive behaviour

         1. 1. The domestic abuse offence

         2. 2. What amounts to abusive behaviour

         3. 3. Impact of behaviour on victim

         4. 4. Meaning of behaviour etc.

      2. Personal connection

         1. 5. Meaning of personal connection

         2. 6. Establishing connection by notice

         3. 7. How notice is to be served

      3. Aggravating factors

         1. 8. Aggravation where victim is under 18

         2. 9. Aggravation where relevant child is involved

      4. Applicable rules and penalty

         1. 10. Behaviour occurring outside the UK

         2. 11. Exception where responsibility for children

         3. 12. Defence on grounds of reasonableness

         4. 13. Alternative available for conviction

         5. 14. Penalty for the offence

   2. CHAPTER 2 Aggravation as to domestic abuse

      1. Sentencing aggravation

         1. 15. Aggravation as to domestic abuse

         2. 16. What amounts to the aggravation

         3. 17. Exception regarding the aggravation

      2. Personal connection

         1. 18. Meaning of personal connection

         2. 19. Establishing connection by notice

         3. 20. How notice is to be served

   3. CHAPTER 3 Miscellaneous provision

      1. Definitions for child cruelty offence

         1. 21. Meaning of ill-treatment etc. in offence provision

      2. Criminal cases involving domestic abuse

         1. 22. No right to claim trial by jury

         2. 23. Special measures directions

         3. 24. Prohibition of cross-examination in person

         4. 25. Meaning of offence involving domestic abuse etc.

      3. Information-sharing and victim protection

         1. 26. Information-sharing with schools etc.

         2. 27. Protective measures for victims of abuse

      4. Civil legal aid for victims of abuse

         1. 28. Eligibility of victims for civil legal aid

         2. 29. Proposals as to availability of civil legal aid

      5. Guidance and operational matters

         1. 30. Guidance about domestic abuse

         2. 31. Guidance on data collection

         3. 32. Training within relevant bodies

         4. 33. Independent oversight of this Part

         5. 34. Report on the operation of this Part

3. PART 2 Provision for civil proceedings

   1. Residence and contact orders

      1. 35. Factors relevant to residence and contact orders

   2. Cross-examination and special measures

      1. 36. Prohibition of cross-examination in person in family proceedings

      2. 37. Special measures directions in family proceedings

      3. 38. Prohibition of cross-examination in person in civil proceedings generally

      4. 39. Special measures directions in civil proceedings generally

4. PART 3 Commencement and short title

   1. 40. Commencement

   2. 41. Short title