Citation, interpretation and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023.

(2) In these Regulations “ the Act” means the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

(3) This regulation and regulation 2(c) extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(4) Regulations 2(a), 2(b) and 3 extend to England and Wales.

Commencement of provisions on 5th April 2023

2.  The following provisions of the Act come into force on 5th April 2023—

(a) section 68 (controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship);

(b) section 77 (guidance about the disclosure of information by police forces);

(c) section 82 (code of practice).

Transitional Provision

3.  The amendments made by section 68 of the Act apply only in relation to controlling or coercive behaviour, as defined in section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015( 2), that occurs on or after 5th April 2023.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring into force sections 68, 77 and 82 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c. 17)(“ the Act”) on 5th April 2023.

Regulation 2 brings into force section 68 of the Act, which amends the definition of “personally connected” in section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9). It also brings into force section 77 of the Act, which requires the Secretary of State to issue statutory guidance to the police about the disclosure of police information by police forces for the purposes of preventing domestic abuse, and section 82 of the Act, which enables the Secretary of State to issue a code of practice relating to the processing of domestic abuse data for immigration purposes.

Regulation 3 ensures that the amendments made by section 68 of the Act only apply to controlling or coercive behaviour that occurs on or after 5th April 2023.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen independent of the provisions these Regulations bring into force. An impact assessment has been published in relation to the effect of the Act and copies can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ, or from this website:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1007463/DA_Act_2021_Impact_Assessment.pdf

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT REGULATIONS

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The following provisions of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 have been brought into force by commencement regulations before the date of these Regulations.