It has been five years since the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (DAA 2021) came into force on 30 April 2021. This anniversary offers an opportunity for both reflection and reckoning.
When DAA 2021 was passed, it was hailed as a landmark piece of legislation—one that would transform the family court’s treatment of cases involving domestic abuse. However, the ‘Everyday Business’ report, published by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner in October 2025, suggests that the Act has failed to effect practical change and that systemic issues regarding the treatment of domestic abuse in the family court remain.
This article revisits the core legislative changes brought about by DAA 2021 and explores the findings in the Everyday Business report, focusing particularly on the alleged ‘pro-contact culture’ in the family court. It also considers the next steps and how these could pave the way for change.
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