Reference

Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the acronyms, forms and specialist terms used by police, the CPS and family courts in domestic abuse cases — what a Scott Schedule actually is, what MG5 and MG11 mean, what DASH and MARAC do, and the rest.

Information only. This is not legal advice. Court procedures and the law change. Always confirm with a solicitor, Citizens Advice, or a domestic abuse advocate before acting.

Court & procedure

Scott Schedule: A table used in family fact-finding hearings listing the worst or most representative allegations the court is asked to find proved. Columns typically include date, allegation, supporting evidence, the respondent's reply and a column for the judge's finding. Re H-N [2021] EWCA Civ 448 warns it should not be used in isolation because it can obscure a pattern of coercive control — pair it with a narrative threshold document.
PD12J— Practice Direction 12J: The Family Procedure Rules practice direction that governs child-arrangements cases where domestic abuse is alleged. Requires the court to identify allegations, decide whether a fact-finding is needed, and ensure any contact ordered is safe.
FPR— Family Procedure Rules 2010: The procedural rules that govern family court proceedings in England and Wales.
Re H-N— Re H-N and Others (Children) [2021] EWCA Civ 448: Leading Court of Appeal authority on how family courts should approach allegations of domestic abuse, especially patterns of coercive and controlling behaviour. Emphasises pattern over individual incidents.
F v M— F v M [2021] EWFC 4: High Court (Hayden J) decision providing a detailed analysis of coercive control in the family court context.
Fact-finding: A preliminary family court hearing where the judge decides, on the balance of probabilities, which alleged facts are proved before going on to decide welfare.
EIC / XX— Examination-in-chief / cross-examination: EIC is your own side's questioning of a witness; XX is the other side's questioning. In DA cases, ss.27/28 YJCEA 1999 allow pre-recorded EIC and XX as special measures.
Part 22: The part of the Family Procedure Rules dealing with evidence — including the form and content of witness statements and statements of truth.

Police & prosecution

CPS— Crown Prosecution Service: The principal public prosecutor in England and Wales. Applies the Full Code Test (evidential sufficiency + public interest) when deciding to charge.
OIC— Officer in the Case: The police officer with day-to-day responsibility for an investigation and for liaising with the CPS and the victim.
CAD— Computer Aided Despatch number: The reference number created by the police control room when a call is received. Ask for it on every 999/101 call.
CRIS— Crime Reporting Information System number: The crime reference number issued once police record the report as a crime under the Home Office Counting Rules. Different from a CAD.
NCRS— National Crime Recording Standard: The standard the Home Office requires forces to follow when deciding whether to record a report as a crime.
HMICFRS— His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services: Independent inspectorate that audits police forces. Has repeatedly criticised under-recording of DA crimes.
PIP2— Professionalising Investigation Programme — Level 2: The accreditation level for detectives investigating serious and complex crime, including many DA offences.
DA Matters: College of Policing training programme to improve police response to domestic abuse, particularly coercive control.
VRR— Victims' Right to Review: Scheme allowing a victim to ask the CPS (or police) to review a decision not to charge or to stop a prosecution.
NFA— No Further Action: A decision by police or CPS not to proceed. Can be challenged via VRR or crime-recording review.
Either-way offence: An offence that can be tried in either the magistrates' or Crown Court. There is no 6-month time bar on laying an information — important for stalking and coercive control.
Summary-only offence: An offence triable only in the magistrates' court. Generally subject to a 6-month time limit, except common assault in a DA context (see s.39A CJA 1988 — 2-year window).

Evidence & disclosure

MG5: Police case summary form sent to the CPS — the one-page overview the reviewing lawyer reads first.
MG11: The witness statement form used by police. Read carefully and correct before signing.
VPS— Victim Personal Statement: A separate statement describing the impact of the offence. Considered by the court at sentence.
BWV— Body-Worn Video: Footage from officers' body cameras. Often the strongest exhibit because it captures demeanour at the scene.
ROTI / SDN— Record of Taped Interview / Short Descriptive Note: Written summaries of a suspect's police interview, used in the prosecution file.
FME— Forensic Medical Examiner / Examination: Independent doctor who documents and gives expert opinion on injuries, including in sexual offence and strangulation cases.
SARC— Sexual Assault Referral Centre: Specialist centre offering forensic medical examination, support and (optionally) onward referral to police — you can attend without reporting.
Res gestae: A hearsay exception (s.118 CJA 2003) allowing statements made spontaneously during or immediately after an event to be admitted. Lets prosecutions proceed without the complainant's live evidence, e.g. via 999 audio.
Hearsay notice: Application under s.114 CJA 2003 to admit an out-of-court statement as evidence of the truth of its contents.
Bad character: Evidence of misconduct other than the offence charged. Admissible under s.101 CJA 2003 through one of seven 'gateways' — including establishing a propensity or pattern.
SAR— Subject Access Request: A request under UK GDPR to obtain personal data held about you by an organisation (police, NHS, school, council). Useful for filling disclosure gaps.
C1A: The Family Court supplemental form for allegations of harm and domestic abuse. Always file alongside Form C100 where abuse is alleged.

Orders & applications

C100: Application form for child-arrangements, prohibited steps and specific issue orders under s.8 Children Act 1989.
FL401: Application form for a Non-Molestation Order or Occupation Order under Part IV Family Law Act 1996.
NMO— Non-Molestation Order: Family court order prohibiting an associated person from using or threatening violence or molesting the applicant or relevant child. Breach is a criminal offence.
Occupation Order: Family court order regulating who can live in a family home and entry into the surrounding area.
DAPO / DAPN— Domestic Abuse Protection Order / Notice: New flexible protective regime under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (ss.27–48). The notice is issued by police; the order is made by the court and can impose both prohibitions and positive requirements (e.g. attendance on a perpetrator programme).
DVPO / DVPN— Domestic Violence Protection Order / Notice: Predecessor regime under the Crime and Security Act 2010, being replaced by DAPO/DAPN.
Restraining Order: Criminal court order under s.5 Protection from Harassment Act 1997, available on conviction or acquittal, prohibiting specified conduct.
PSO— Prohibited Steps Order: Children Act order preventing a parent from taking a specified step (e.g. removing the child from the country) without the court's permission.
SIO— Specific Issue Order: Children Act order resolving a specific question about a child's upbringing — schooling, medical treatment, religion.
FMPO— Forced Marriage Protection Order: Order under Part 4A Family Law Act 1996 to protect a person from being forced into marriage.
FGMPO— Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order: Order under Schedule 2 FGM Act 2003 to protect a girl or woman at risk of FGM.
SHPO— Sexual Harm Prevention Order: Order under s.103A Sexual Offences Act 2003 imposing restrictions on a person convicted of a sexual offence.
Stalking Protection Order: Order under the Stalking Protection Act 2019 imposing prohibitions and requirements on a person posing a stalking risk, including in non-domestic contexts.

Safeguarding & risk

DASH— Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-based violence risk assessment: Risk assessment tool used by police and partner agencies to grade DA risk as Standard, Medium or High. Ask the officer to share the outcome.
MARAC— Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference: Local multi-agency meeting for high-risk DA cases where police, health, housing, children's services and specialist DA services share information and plan safety actions.
MAPPA— Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements: Statutory framework for managing violent and sexual offenders in the community.
Clare's Law— Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme: Scheme allowing a person to ask police whether a partner has an abusive history ('right to ask'), and police to disclose proactively where someone is at risk ('right to know').
Sarah's Law— Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme: Scheme allowing a parent, guardian or carer to ask police whether a person with access to a child has a record for child sexual offences.
CAFCASS— Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service: Independent body that safeguards and promotes the welfare of children in family court proceedings in England. Produces safeguarding letters and s.7 welfare reports. CAFCASS Cymru is the equivalent in Wales.
s.7 report: A welfare report ordered under s.7 Children Act 1989, usually written by a CAFCASS officer or local authority social worker, advising the court on what is in the child's best interests.
s.37 report: A direction under s.37 Children Act 1989 requiring the local authority to investigate where the court considers a care or supervision order may be appropriate.
s.47 enquiry: Local authority investigation under s.47 Children Act 1989 where there is reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm.
DSL— Designated Safeguarding Lead: The named member of school or nursery staff with overall responsibility for safeguarding referrals.

Legislation

DAA 2021— Domestic Abuse Act 2021: The primary statute defining domestic abuse, creating new offences (e.g. non-fatal strangulation, threats to share intimate images) and introducing the DAPN/DAPO regime.
PHA 1997— Protection from Harassment Act 1997: Contains the offences of harassment (s.2), stalking (s.2A), putting in fear of violence (s.4) and stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm/distress (s.4A), and restraining orders (s.5).
SCA 2015— Serious Crime Act 2015: s.76 creates the offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship. s.75A (inserted by DAA 2021) creates the non-fatal strangulation/suffocation offence.
OAPA 1861— Offences Against the Person Act 1861: Contains historic offences still in use — ABH (s.47), GBH/wounding (s.20), GBH with intent (s.18).
CJA 1988— Criminal Justice Act 1988: s.39 — common assault and battery. s.39A (added by s.49 PCSCA 2022) — extends the time limit for common assault in a DA context to 2 years.
CJA 2003— Criminal Justice Act 2003: Reforms to bad character (s.101) and hearsay (ss.114–118) evidence in criminal proceedings.
PCSCA 2022— Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022: Among many other provisions, inserts s.39A CJA 1988 to extend the time limit for DA common assault.
YJCEA 1999— Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999: Special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses (ss.23–30), including screens, live link and pre-recorded evidence (ss.27–28).
FLA 1996— Family Law Act 1996: Part IV provides for Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders. Part 4A provides for Forced Marriage Protection Orders.
CA 1989— Children Act 1989: The principal statute governing the welfare of children — including s.8 orders (child arrangements, prohibited steps, specific issue), s.7 welfare reports, s.31 care orders and the s.31(2) significant-harm threshold.

Statutory sections

s.1 DAA 2021— Section 1, Domestic Abuse Act 2021: The statutory definition of domestic abuse: behaviour between two people aged 16+ who are 'personally connected' that is abusive — physical/sexual, violent/threatening, controlling/coercive, economic, or psychological/emotional. 'Personally connected' is defined at s.2.
s.3 DAA 2021— Children as victims: A child who sees, hears or experiences the effects of domestic abuse — and is related to either party — is themselves a victim of domestic abuse.
s.27–48 DAA 2021— Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders: Creates the DAPN (police-issued, short-term) and DAPO (court-made, flexible — can impose both prohibitions and positive requirements like attending a perpetrator programme). Breach is a criminal offence.
s.63 DAA 2021— Ban on cross-examination by perpetrators: Prohibits a party from personally cross-examining a witness in family proceedings where there is evidence of domestic abuse between them — a qualified legal representative is appointed instead.
s.65 DAA 2021— Special measures in family proceedings: Makes victims of domestic abuse automatically eligible for special measures (screens, separate entrances, video link) in family court.
s.70 DAA 2021— Consent is no defence to serious harm for sexual gratification: Often called the 'rough sex' provision — a person cannot consent to the infliction of serious harm for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification.
s.76 SCA 2015— Controlling or coercive behaviour: Criminalises repeated or continuous controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship that has a serious effect on the victim. Either-way offence — no 6-month time bar. Maximum 5 years' imprisonment.
s.75A SCA 2015— Non-fatal strangulation / suffocation: Inserted by the DAA 2021. Standalone either-way offence — no need to prove injury. Maximum 5 years.
s.2 PHA 1997— Harassment: A course of conduct (two or more incidents) amounting to harassment which the defendant knew or ought to have known amounted to harassment. Summary-only — 6-month time limit.
s.2A PHA 1997— Stalking: Harassment that amounts to stalking — includes following, monitoring, contacting, loitering, interfering with property, watching/spying. Either-way — no 6-month time bar.
s.4 PHA 1997— Putting in fear of violence: Course of conduct causing another to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against them. Either-way. Maximum 10 years.
s.4A PHA 1997— Stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm/distress: Aggravated stalking offence. Either-way — no 6-month time bar. Maximum 10 years.
s.5 PHA 1997— Restraining order: Allows a criminal court to impose a restraining order on conviction (s.5) or even on acquittal (s.5A) where necessary to protect a person from harassment or fear of violence.
s.18 OAPA 1861— Wounding / GBH with intent: Indictable-only — Crown Court only. The most serious assault offence short of attempted murder. Maximum life imprisonment.
s.20 OAPA 1861— Unlawful wounding / GBH: Either-way. Wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without the specific intent required for s.18. Maximum 5 years.
s.47 OAPA 1861— Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH): Either-way. Any hurt or injury that is more than transient or trifling — includes psychiatric injury. Maximum 5 years.
s.39 CJA 1988— Common assault and battery: Summary-only. Covers assault (causing apprehension of force) and battery (any unlawful touching). Maximum 6 months. In a DA context, see s.39A below.
s.39A CJA 1988— Extended time limit for DA common assault: Inserted by s.49 PCSCA 2022. Extends the time limit for laying an information for common assault in a domestic abuse context to 2 years from the offence (and 6 months from when the victim first reports).
ss.27–28 YJCEA 1999— Pre-recorded evidence-in-chief and cross-examination: Special measures allowing a vulnerable or intimidated witness's evidence to be video-recorded in advance, so they do not have to give it live in front of the defendant.
s.101 CJA 2003— Bad character of defendant: Lets the prosecution adduce evidence of the defendant's previous misconduct through seven 'gateways' — most relevant in DA cases are gateway (d) (relevant to an important matter, e.g. propensity to commit DA) and gateway (g) (defendant attacks another's character).
ss.114–118 CJA 2003— Hearsay in criminal proceedings: The statutory framework allowing out-of-court statements to be admitted — by statute, by common-law preserved rules (s.118, including res gestae), by agreement, or in the interests of justice (s.114(1)(d)).
s.8 CA 1989— Child arrangements / prohibited steps / specific issue orders: The 'private law' orders in the Children Act — child arrangements (who the child lives with / spends time with), prohibited steps, and specific issue orders. Applied for on Form C100.
s.7 CA 1989— Welfare report: Allows the court to order CAFCASS or the local authority to report on any matter relating to the welfare of the child.
s.31 CA 1989— Care and supervision orders: The 'public law' route — local authority application for a care or supervision order. s.31(2) sets the 'significant harm' threshold.
s.37 CA 1989— Direction for LA investigation: Direction by the family court to the local authority to investigate the child's circumstances where care/supervision may be appropriate.
s.47 CA 1989— Local authority enquiries: Duty on the local authority to make enquiries where there is reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm.
Part IV FLA 1996— Family home and domestic violence: The part of the Family Law Act dealing with Non-Molestation Orders (s.42) and Occupation Orders (ss.33–38). Applied for on Form FL401.
Part 4A FLA 1996— Forced Marriage Protection Orders: Provides for FMPOs (s.63A) — orders to protect a person from being forced into marriage, or from the effects of a forced marriage.
Schedule 2 FGM Act 2003— FGM Protection Orders: Empowers the family court to make FGMPOs to protect a girl or woman at risk of female genital mutilation.
s.103A SOA 2003— Sexual Harm Prevention Order: Court order imposing restrictions on a person convicted (or cautioned) of a sexual offence, to protect the public from sexual harm.

Support & advocacy

IDVA— Independent Domestic Violence Advisor: Specialist advocate working with high-risk DA victims through the criminal justice process — free of charge.
ISVA— Independent Sexual Violence Advisor: Specialist advocate for victims of sexual violence, supporting them through reporting, prosecution and recovery.
IMHA / IMCA— Independent Mental Health / Mental Capacity Advocate: Statutory advocates supporting people detained under the Mental Health Act or assessed under the Mental Capacity Act.
Refuge: Safe-house accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse. National Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge): 0808 2000 247, 24/7.
Victims' Code: The statutory Code of Practice for Victims of Crime. Sets out 12 rights including the right to be informed, to make a VPS and to access support services.