Template letter responding to DAPP self-referrals via Child Arrangement Order proceedings

Following the recent removal of the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme (DAPP) referral pathway in Child Arrangement Order proceedings, Respect and its members have seen a significant increase in the numbers of perpetrators attempting to self-refer into community DAPPs.

As there is now no way of ensuring information-sharing and safeguarding between the DAPP and the family courts, Respect has briefed members running DAPPs not to take on self-referrals from perpetrators going through Child Arrangement Order (CAO) proceedings. Following this direction from Respect, we have produced this letter to support members’ responses to perpetrators self-referring into DAPPs.

The letter advises perpetrators, and those referring them, on the current situation and recommends the perpetrator show this letter to their solicitor, Family Court Advisor, and/or the Judge in their case.

To learn more about the current issue around this referral pathway, read our letter to the Ministry of Justice.