PART 3Powers for dealing with domestic abuse
Domestic abuse protection orders
31Domestic abuse protection orders otherwise than on application
1
A court may make a domestic abuse protection order under this section in any of the cases set out below.
2Family proceedings
The High Court or the family court may make a domestic abuse protection order against a person (“P”) in any family proceedings to which both P and the person for whose protection the order would be made are parties.
Criminal proceedings
3
Where a person (“P”) has been convicted of an offence, the court dealing with P for that offence may (as well as sentencing P or dealing with P in any other way) make a domestic abuse protection order against P.
4
But subsection (3) does not apply where the Court of Appeal is dealing with a person for an offence.
5
A court by or before which a person is acquitted of an offence may make a domestic abuse protection order against the person.
6
Where the Crown Court allows a person's appeal against a conviction for an offence, the Crown Court may make a domestic abuse protection order against the person.
Civil proceedings
7
The county court may make a domestic abuse protection order against a person (“P”) in any relevant proceedings to which both P and the person for whose protection the order would be made are parties.
8
In subsection (7) “relevant proceedings” means proceedings of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.