Part 3: Powers for dealing with domestic abuse Section 45: Variation and discharge: supplementary
This section sets out the relevant court at which proceedings in relation to the variation and discharge of a DAPO are to take place. Generally, such proceedings are to take place in the court where the original DAPO was made, but this is subject to certain exceptions, for example where a DAPO was made in a magistrates’ court, proceedings to vary or discharge the order may take place in any other magistrates’ court acting in the local justice area in which that court acts (subsection (2)). The reference to "the court" in subsection (1) is to a particular legal jurisdiction rather than a physical court building. The family court, the Crown Court and the county court each constitute a single jurisdiction so, for example, where a DAPO was made in the family court, proceedings in respect of the variation or discharge of an order can, if necessary, take place at any location where the family court sits.
	Subsection (9) provides that where a DAPO is varied and the perpetrator is not given notice of the variation, the perpetrator can only breach the order in relation to non-compliance with any new requirement from the time when they are aware of the making of the variation.