The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6, 8 and 9 and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State for Justice, amend existing commencement orders related to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, specifically extending the pilot commencement dates for provisions under Part 3 of the Act in England and Wales until 24th November 2026.
They revise the sunset clauses in the 2024 and 2025 commencement regulations, ensuring that the piloted provisions remain in force in specified areas past the previously scheduled end date of 31st March 2026.
Arguments For
The amendment ensures continuity for ongoing pilot schemes related to Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, allowing necessary data collection and evaluation to proceed without interruption.
Extending the commencement date supports the continuous application of enhanced protections related to domestic abuse orders in specified areas, ensuring victims benefit from the powers established by the primary Act for a longer trial period.
The continuation maintains the operational framework established under previous commencement and amendment regulations, providing stability for practitioners and the agencies involved in rolling out the new provisions.
Arguments Against
Postponing the full, nationwide commencement of Part 3 provisions via these extensions may delay the full benefit of comprehensive legislative protections being available across all of England and Wales.
Repeated commencement amendments introduce administrative complexity for legal professionals and support services who must track evolving implementation dates across different geographical areas or legislative phases.
The decision not to publish a new impact assessment suggests the effect of the delay is deemed non-significant, but any delay could negatively affect vulnerable individuals waiting for comprehensive legal remedies to become fully operational.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 342
DOMESTIC ABUSE, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6, 8 and 9 and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 24th March 2026
Coming into force - - 25th March 2026
This heading identifies the document as a Statutory Instrument from 2026, numbered 342.
The subject matter concerns Domestic Abuse legislation applicable in England and Wales.
The instrument enacts amendments to previous commencement provisions for the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and it was officially made on March 24th, 2026, coming into legal effect the following day.
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 86(1) and 90(6), (7), (8) and (9) of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021( 1 ).
The Secretary of State enacted these rules using specific authority granted by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
This authority is found within sections 86(1) and section 90, subsections (6) through (9), of that Act, which permit the making of such commencement and transitional regulations.
Citation, commencement and extent
- -(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6, 8 and 9 and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
- (2) These Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.
- (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.
Regulation 1 establishes the formal title of these Regulations.
They become legally binding the day after they are made, which confirms the commencement date of March 25th, 2026.
The geographical application of these rules is limited only to England and Wales.
Amendment to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024
- In regulation 1(2)(g) of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024( 2 ), for '31 March 2026' substitute '24 November 2026'.
This explicitly amends the 2024 Commencement No. 6 Regulations.
It targets a specific date provision within that earlier regulation, replacing the previous expiry date of 31st March 2026 with a new date of 24th November 2026 for the commencement of those specific provisions.
Amendment to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 8 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025
- In regulation 1(2)(f) of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 8 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025( 3 ), for '31st March 2026' substitute '24th November 2026'.
This regulation amends the 2025 Commencement No. 8 Regulations.
It finds a particular date reference within the earlier document and substitutes the existing end date of 31st March 2026 with the revised date of 24th November 2026.
Amendments to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 9 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025
- -(1) The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 9 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025( 4 ) are amended as follows.
- (2) In regulation 1(3)(f), for '31st March 2026' substitute '24th November 2026'.
- (3) In regulation 3(3)(a), for '31st March 2026' substitute '24th November 2026'.
This section details changes to the 2025 Commencement No. 9 Regulations.
Subsections (2) and (3) both act to replace the previous 31st March 2026 deadline with 24th November 2026 in two distinct locations within the No. 9 Regulations, ensuring the provisions they cover continue in effect until the new date.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Justice
24th March 2026
Alex Davies-Jones Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Ministry of Justice
This confirms the official signing of the instrument by Alex Davies-Jones, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, on March 24th, 2026, thereby authorizing the regulations.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/1191 (C. 76)) ('the No. 6 Regulations'), the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 8 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/319 (C. 10)) ('the No. 8 Regulations') and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 9 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/515 (C. 22)) ('the No. 9 Regulations').
The No. 6 Regulations, the No. 8 Regulations and the No. 9 Regulations brought Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c. 17) ('the Act'), except section 55, into force for specified areas of England and Wales. These provisions were commenced on a piloted basis, for specified periods of time originally ending with 26th November 2025 and extended to 31st March 2026 by regulations 2, 3 and 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 6, 8 and 9 and Saving Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1222).
Regulations 2, 3 and 4 of these Regulations amend the No. 6 Regulations, the No. 8 Regulations and the No. 9 Regulations respectively so that Part 3 of the Act, as commenced by those instruments, continues to be in force in those areas until 24th November 2026.
An impact assessment has not been published for these Regulations as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen arising from the provisions these Regulations amend. An impact assessment has been published in relation to the Act, which does consider the impact of domestic abuse protection orders and copies can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ, or from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1007463/DA_Act_2021_Impact_Assessment.pdf.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the purpose is to amend three previous commencement regulations (No. 6, No. 8, and No. 9 Regulations).
These earlier instruments brought Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (excluding section 55) into force on a pilot basis in specific regions.
The repeated extensions aimed to keep these pilot provisions active until 31st March 2026.
The current regulations formally extend the expiry date for these piloted provisions in those areas to 24th November 2026.
Because the changes only involve extending existing pilot deadlines, the government does not foresee a significant new impact on the public, private, or voluntary sectors, and therefore no new impact assessment was published.
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