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Domestic Violence Protection Notice (DVPN) & Orders (DVPOs)

At JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors, our criminal defence lawyers have over 45 years of experience assisting clients facing domestic abuse notices and orders.

 

Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs) can be issued by police when attending incidents of alleged domestic violence.

The DVPN can be used to remove the recipient from the property for 48 hours. The police can then apply to the Magistrates to have this period extended for a further 14 to 28 days.

If you instruct our expert solicitors, we will be on hand to provide immediate support and representation, whilst also advising you on your rights if you are facing a domestic violence order.

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Why choose JD Spicer Zeb?

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There is limited recourse for you if you are falsely accused. Click a selection of the cases we have covered. The best thing you can do is to instruct an excellent solicitor from the outset.

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We have specialist expertise with the complex orders and notices involved in domestic violence cases, and we will work hard to help you secure a fair outcome.

Our highly experienced criminal defence solicitors offer:

  • 24/7 legal support in person and over the phone, 365 days a year
  • Representation anywhere in England and Wales
  • Accredited Police Station Representatives to support you during a police interview
  • Clear, effective legal advice in any language (see our languages spoken)

Speak to our criminal defence solicitors today

For a free initial consultation on your legal position and the available options when defending a domestic violence notice, contact our local offices in London, Birmingham or Manchester.

For urgent advice at any time of day or night regarding an allegation of domestic violence, please call our Emergency Number 07836 577 556.

How can we help?

Common questions

We always work with the most experienced and best leading UK barristers, KCs (Kings Counsel). We cover all criminal cases 24/7 at the police station and court. Offices in London, Birmingham, and Manchester cover cases across England and Wales. We can offer Legal Aid and affordable Private fee agreements. We can see you the same day, including virtually. Our Senior Partners supervise all of our cases.

How quickly do you respond?

We respond quickly even during out of hours. We do not get our work by paying for online adverts but based on the fact that few criminal law firms can match our 45 years of experience. Most of our cases are still from word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients. We are called daily by dissatisfied clients from firms with less experience than us. We respond very quickly to new enquiries. We know what clients seek and so we update clients rapidly.

Can you get cases dropped?

Yes, read about the recent cases we've helped our clients with here.

We always keep you updated and give straightforward advice. We will get cases dropped early where the case is weak or should not be prosecuted. We will be upfront with you about where you can benefit from a good result with an early guilty plea, such as a discount on your sentence. As we work on cases across all levels with clients from all walks of life, we are excellent at giving clear, spot-on advice. As an established firm, we can allocate a whole team to your case often at short notice to secure evidence to minimise the damage to you. 

Have you won any awards?

OUR PROFESSIONAL BODY THE LAW SOCIETY AWARDED US IN OCTOBER 2020 WITH THE EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE AWARD AND STATED - 

"JD Spicer Zeb demonstrated a clear commitment to client service through their work with vulnerable and diverse individuals in what can be severely traumatic circumstances".

Do you offer free consultations?

Where it is possible, we aim to provide an initial consultation to you. If we can speak to you, we can if required inform you about  –

  • Whether we can take the case on and our relevant experience.
  • Public and private funding benefits.
  • Assistance in applying for legal aid where we are likely to accept instructions.
  • An outline of options in police interview only. We will not advise you on which option to adopt.
  • Providing our free written guide explaining the police station process.
  • The gravity of routine and day-to-day offences you face.
  • Consequences of not attending the court or police station.
  • Consequences of interfering with any witnesses.
  • Retaining any evidence in support of your case.
  • If possible an outline of the elements of the offence that the police or CPS must prove.
  • This consultation will normally be by telephone or email and will only be for as long as we deem necessary to establish if we can act for you. If we cannot usefully give you any advice in this manner then we will not continue with the consultation. We will not discuss the case in depth for you to be able to decide on your plea or any significant aspect of the case, as this cannot be undertaken informally.
  • Referring you, if possible, to other firms for matters out of our specialism or if we cannot help.

Consultations do not apply to the following cases –

  • If we do not intend to take the case on.
  • Road Traffic cases, drink driving, drug driving, driving bans, speeding, no insurance, mobile phone use, points etc.
  • In all cases where we do not have the capacity to take your case or the availability of suitably qualified staff to provide an initial free consultation. This is applicable in all cases but especially where a more senior lawyer is required because of your personal needs or the complexity of the case.
  • Harassment/stalking/ coercive behaviour/malicious communications or road traffic cases and most sensitive cases. These cases are often too complicated to assess in short consultations.
  • The locations concerned may be too distant to represent you adequately or it may not be cost-effective for you or us.
  • The case is too complicated to assess or raises various charges or facts, complexity, or history to be considered informally or in a short consultation.
  • In most Legal aid transfers where legal aid is granted to another firm except in very grave cases, we may assess the case and merits for a transfer.
  • If your relationship has broken down with your existing solicitor or several solicitors.
  • If you have been released under investigation and have already had a police station attendance. 
  • If you hold legal aid with another firm and seek a second opinion.
  • If you are calling on behalf of the client as a friend or family member unless you have full authority and full facts.
  • To businesses.
  • Advising whether you were given good advice by your other solicitor.
  • Whether to decide to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Whether you have an arguable defence in law or factually complicated defences.
  • Any advice you have had after your first court appearance.
  • Any advice on appeal on conviction or sentence.
  • If we feel we are unable to communicate with you.
  • If we are likely to be conflicted or breach our professional rules.

Why choose our criminal defence solicitors?

For over 45 years, our criminal defence solicitors have been providing expert legal advice across a wide range of cases, including those involving Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs) and Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs).

We have a deep understanding of the complexity of these cases, how they are handled by the authorities, and the evidence the police may use to support their actions.

A DVPN or DVPO can include restrictions on your ability to return to your home or contact certain individuals, potentially affecting your family life and reputation.

Breaching these orders can result in penalties, including fines or imprisonment. It is crucial that you receive legal advice tailored to your unique circumstances and the details of your case.

If you are facing a DVPN, DVPO, or allegations related to domestic violence, you can trust our experienced team to provide expert legal advice and representation.

We are proud to hold the Law Society’s accreditation for Criminal Litigation, demonstrating our skill and commitment in handling criminal law matters, and our Lexcel accreditation, which highlights our consistently high standards of legal practice.

Our criminal defence expertise

Representation at police stations

If you are questioned at a police station in relation to an allegation of domestic violence, anything you say or do can be used as evidence against you in court. This makes it essential to obtain expert legal advice and representation as soon as possible.

If you receive quality representation at the interview stage, our solicitors may be able to assist before a DPVN is issued.

Our team of experienced police station solicitors and representatives are available 24/7 to provide quick and effective guidance, ensuring your rights are protected and that you understand the implications of the investigation process.

Advice if you have received a DVPN

If you have been issued a Domestic Violence Protection Notice, the order can be enforced immediately, and there is no current legal mechanism for appealing it. However, we can challenge a longer DVPO in court by making representations.

It is advisable to instruct a solicitor as soon as you have received a DVPN, if not before, so that we can prepare to challenge the application for a DVPO on your behalf during court proceedings.

Challenging a DVPO

Our solicitors have successfully defended clients against the imposition of a full DVPO order.

Even if you agree to the order being imposed, it may still be possible to contest the duration of the order, and its attached conditions.

We can support you throughout this process with quality legal representation and help ensure a fair outcome.

Breach of a DVPO

If you are accused of violating a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO), you may be arrested and brought before the court.

If you admit to breaching the order, the court will proceed with sentencing. However, if you contest the allegation, the court will hear arguments from the Police advocate as well as from your solicitor.

The court will make its decision based on the evidence presented, determining on the balance of probabilities whether you have violated the order.

If you have been accused of breaching a DVPN or a DVPO, you should seek specialist legal advice from our solicitors, at the earliest opportunity. We can provide expert advice and representation for all of your appearances at court, providing you with the best chance of a fair outcome.

Fees and funding

When dealing with fees and funding, we will always be clear and upfront about your options.

Legal Aid may be available in some cases, but this depends on the seriousness of the case, and whether it will justify the grant of public funding.

To find out more about the way we handle fees (both Legal Aid and private fees), please use the links provided below:

Related offences

We also provide support and guidance on various other matters that are related to domestic violence orders, including:

Related cases

Common questions about domestic violence protection orders

What is a DVPN/DVPO?

Domestic Violence Protection Notices can be issued by the police when attending incidents of alleged domestic violence. They are an immediate and short-term measure used to remove the suspected perpetrator from the property for 48 hours.

This is designed to give the victim a degree of safety and space by removing the suspected perpetrator and preventing them from molesting the victim.

The police can then apply to the magistrates’ court for a DVPO, which extends the DVPN for a further 14 to 28 days.

A DVPO may have certain conditions, including prohibiting the alleged perpetrator from contacting the victim, returning to the home address, or entering specified geographical areas.

How long does a DVPN/DVPO last, and what happens after it expires?

The DVPN will last for 48 hours and there is no mechanism in place to challenge a DVPN once it has been issued.

A DVPO will last for between 14 and 28 days but quality legal representation can help you challenge the length and terms of a DVPO.

Who oversees the DVPN/DVPO process?

The police will issue the original DVPN notice; the police may then go on to apply to the Magistrates Court for a DVPO to extend this notice.

A court hearing will then be held within 48 hours of the DVPN being issued, in order to determine whether a DVPO should be granted.

It is important to be on time for the hearing after instructing expert legal representation, otherwise the DVPO may be granted in your absence.

What happens when a DVPO expires?

Both the DVPN and the DVPO are temporary orders, and when the time period finishes, the order will expire.

What are the penalties for breaching a DVPO?

Breach of a DVPO constitutes a civil breach of a court order under Section 63 of the Magistrates' Court Act.

The consequences for breaching this civil order include a fine of £50 for each day the individual remains in breach, capped at a maximum of £5,000 or two months’ imprisonment.

Contact our DVPO and DVPN solicitors today

If you are due to attend the police station for interview, have been accused of domestic violence, or require any urgent specialist advice or immediate representation, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact a member of our dedicated team of criminal defence solicitors in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

24/7 legal representation for criminal defence

Please contact us for a free initial consultation with one of our criminal defence lawyers for immediate advice and representation.

For urgent representation and advice, you can contact our Emergency Number: 07836 577 556 and we will provide you with the assistance you need.

How can we help?