Library
Legislation library
Every key UK Act protecting domestic abuse victims and children. Click an Act for a plain-English summary and a link to the official text on legislation.gov.uk.
Showing only the law that applies in England & Wales. Change location
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.
England & Wales
2021
Domestic Abuse Act 2021
First statutory definition of domestic abuse, covering physical, sexual, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, and psychological/emotional or other abuse. Children are recognised as victims in their own right. Creates Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPN) and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPO), bans cross-examination by alleged perpetrators in family court, and gives victims automatic eligibility for special measures.
1996
Family Law Act 1996 (Part IV)
The main statute for non-molestation orders and occupation orders in the family court. These are civil orders breach of which is a criminal offence (for non-molestation orders) under s.42A.
1997
Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Creates the criminal offences of harassment (s.2) and stalking (s.2A), the more serious putting a person in fear of violence (s.4) and stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm/distress (s.4A). Permits restraining orders on conviction or acquittal (s.5/s.5A).
2015
Serious Crime Act 2015, s.76 — Controlling or Coercive Behaviour
Criminalises a pattern of behaviour that has a serious effect on the victim (causing fear of violence on at least two occasions, or serious alarm or distress with a substantial adverse effect on day-to-day activities). Maximum 5 years' imprisonment.
2019
Stalking Protection Act 2019
Creates the Stalking Protection Order (SPO). Police apply to the magistrates' court; the order can impose both prohibitions and positive requirements (e.g. attend a perpetrator programme). Breach is a criminal offence carrying up to 5 years.
1861
Offences Against the Person Act 1861
The main statute for assault offences charged in domestic abuse cases: actual bodily harm (s.47), grievous bodily harm/wounding (s.20), and GBH with intent (s.18).
2022
Domestic Abuse Act 2021, s.70 — Non-Fatal Strangulation
Inserted s.75A into the Serious Crime Act 2015 creating the standalone offence of non-fatal strangulation or suffocation. Came into force June 2022. Up to 5 years' imprisonment. No need to prove injury.
1989
Children Act 1989
Cornerstone of family law on children. The welfare of the child is paramount (s.1). Defines parental responsibility, child arrangements orders, prohibited steps orders, specific issue orders, and the public-law threshold for care orders.
2004
Children Act 2004
Created the framework for safeguarding (Local Safeguarding Children Boards, now Safeguarding Partners under the Children and Social Work Act 2017). Underpins the duty to cooperate to safeguard and promote welfare.
2002
Adoption and Children Act 2002, s.120 — Definition of Harm
Amended the Children Act 1989 definition of 'harm' to include impairment suffered from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another, recognising the harm children suffer from witnessing domestic abuse.
2003
Sexual Offences Act 2003
Defines rape (s.1), assault by penetration (s.2), sexual assault (s.3), causing sexual activity without consent (s.4). Consent (s.74) requires capacity and freedom to agree; conclusive and evidential presumptions in ss.75-76 apply where violence, threats, or unconsciousness are involved.
1999
Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999
Provides special measures (screens, live link, video-recorded evidence-in-chief, removal of wigs, intermediaries). DA complainants are automatically eligible under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
2015
Modern Slavery Act 2015
Section 1 (slavery/servitude) and section 2 (trafficking) can apply in DA contexts of extreme control, exploitation or transport. Statutory defence (s.45) for victims compelled to commit offences.
2024
Victims and Prisoners Act 2024
Places the Victims' Code on a statutory footing, creates duties on criminal justice agencies to deliver the Code, and gives the Victims' Commissioner enhanced powers. Introduces the Independent Public Advocate, restricts parental responsibility of offenders who kill a partner, and strengthens the role of IDVAs/ISVAs.
2022
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
Removed the 6-month time limit on DA-related common assault charges (now 2 years from offence / 6 months from formal disclosure — whichever earlier), extended the s.76 SCA 2015 coercive control offence to former partners and family members not living together, and tightened sentencing for serious violence.
2004
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
Made breach of a non-molestation order a criminal offence (amending the Family Law Act 1996), extended restraining orders to convictions for any offence and on acquittal, and created the offence of causing or allowing the death (later extended to serious physical harm) of a child or vulnerable adult.
2010
Crime and Security Act 2010 — DVPNs/DVPOs (legacy)
Created Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders, providing up to 28 days of breathing space after a DA incident. Being replaced nationally by the DAPN/DAPO regime under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, but still in force in many areas during the transitional rollout.
2021
Domestic Abuse Act 2021, s.77 — Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare's Law)
Put the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme on a statutory footing. Two limbs: 'Right to Ask' (you ask the police about a partner) and 'Right to Know' (police proactively disclose). Police must have regard to statutory guidance.
1989
Children Act 1989 — Parental Responsibility (ss.2–4A)
Defines parental responsibility (PR) — 'all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property' (s.3). Sets out who acquires PR automatically, who can acquire it by agreement or order, and the (very limited) routes to remove it.
2002
Adoption and Children Act 2002 — PR reforms
Reformed PR in three key ways: (i) s.111 gave unmarried fathers automatic PR on joint birth registration from 1 Dec 2003; (ii) created Special Guardianship Orders (s.14A–G Children Act 1989); (iii) on adoption, PR of the birth parents is extinguished and vested exclusively in the adopters (s.46).
2014
Children and Families Act 2014
Abolished residence/contact orders and replaced them with the single Child Arrangements Order (s.12), made a MIAM compulsory before most family applications (s.10), and inserted the presumption of parental involvement (s.11) into the Children Act 1989 — but only where involvement does not put the child at risk of harm.
1987
Family Law Reform Act 1987
Abolished the legal status of illegitimacy. Sets out the principle that the relationship of a parent to a child is the same whether or not the parents are married — though this does not, by itself, give an unmarried father PR (which is governed by s.4 Children Act 1989).
1953
Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953
Governs birth registration and re-registration. Important for survivors because joint birth registration is the most common route by which an unmarried father acquires PR. A father can only be added to a birth certificate with the mother's agreement, by court declaration of parentage (s.55A Family Law Act 1986), or by court order on his application.
UK-wide
1998
Human Rights Act 1998
Gives effect in UK law to the European Convention on Human Rights. Public authorities (police, CPS, courts, local authorities, CAFCASS) must act compatibly with Convention rights.
2003
Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
Criminalises FGM and taking a girl abroad for FGM. Schedule 2 creates FGM Protection Orders (civil orders, can be made urgently). Mandatory reporting duty for regulated professionals where FGM identified in under-18s.
2023
Online Safety Act 2023
Created new communications offences and reformed intimate-image abuse law. Sharing or threatening to share an intimate image without consent is a criminal offence regardless of motive; cyberflashing is criminalised; false/threatening communications offences replace parts of the Malicious Communications Act 1988.
2008
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 — Parenthood & PR
Defines who counts as a legal parent of a child born through assisted reproduction. The mother's female spouse/civil partner is automatically the child's second legal parent (s.42); unmarried female partners and unmarried male partners can become the second parent through the 'agreed parenthood' provisions (ss.43-44).