From 1 January 2026, Queensland Police can issue a Police Protection Direction (PPD) in certain domestic violence situations.  

A PPD is a legally enforceable direction that sets conditions the respondent must follow to keep the aggrieved safe.  

Police can issue a PPD without going to court, and it can last for up to 12 months from the date police serve the respondent.   

If the respondent to the PPD does not follow the conditions, police can charge them with a criminal offence.  

Key Terms: 

Aggrieved: the person who the direction protects. 

Respondent: the person alleged to have used domestic violence.  

Conditions: rules that state what a person is not allowed to do or how they must behave.  

When responding to an incident or complaint, police may issue a PPD if they are satisfied that:  

• The aggrieved and respondent are in a relevant relationship.
• Including: partner, ex-partner, family member, or informal carer 
• The respondent has committed domestic violence. 
• A PPD is necessary or desirable to protect the aggrieved. 
• Applying to the court for a protection order is not more appropriate. 
• None of the exceptions apply. 

A PPD cannot be issued if: 

• The aggrieved or respondent is a child or a police officer. 
• The respondent should be taken into custody for the domestic violence. 
• There is already a protection order or interstate order between the same parties, or there has been previously. 
• There is already a PPD against the respondent, or there has been previously. 
• The respondent has been convicted of a domestic violence offence in the last 2 years. 
• There is a criminal domestic violence case against the respondent that has not been finalised.  
• There is an application for a protection order against the respondent in court that has not been finalised. 
• The respondent used, or threatened to use, a weapon or object to commit the domestic violence. 
• Police believe both parties need protection but cannot identify who needs protection the most.  
• Police believe a child of the aggrieved needs extra protection and additional conditions are needed to keep the child safe. 

A PPD lasts for 12 months from the start date. The start date is when:  

• The PPD is given to the respondent by police, or 
• A police officer tells the respondent about the PPD and the conditions.  

The PPD will end earlier if:  

• The police or a court revokes the PPD 
• A Protection Order (DVO) or Police Protection Notice (PPN) is issued for the same parties  
• A Protection Order Application is lodged in court for the same parties  
• A Protection Order Application is dismissed or adjourned without a temporary protection order being made. 

If you do not agree with the PPD or its conditions, there are two ways you can ask for it to be reviewed: 

1. Police Review
2. Court Review  

You should seek legal advice about your review options before applying. 

Police Review Process

You can ask the Police Commissioner to review the PPD.  

Who can apply?

• The aggrieved  
• The respondent
• Someone authorised to act for the aggrieved
• Anyone named on the PPD  

How to apply:  

• You can fill out the official form or write a letter. 
• Explain why you think the decision was wrong and include any evidence.  
• You can find more information and forms on the Queensland Government website.  

What happens after you apply? 

• The Police Commissioner will send a written notice to everyone involved, telling them about the review and invite them to make submissions to share their side of the story.  
• You may send submissions and evidence, but it is optional. 

Reasons you might ask for a review: 

• The wrong person was named as the aggrieved or respondent. 
• Someone was named who was not involved or does not need protection. 
• A child was named who was not involved or does not need protection. 
• Additional conditions were added that are not needed. 
• Someone who should have been named was left out.  
• A child who should have been named was left out. 
• Conditions that should have been added were left out.  

If you are a named person, you can only ask about: 

• Why you were named  
• The conditions about you 

You cannot ask about the aggrieved or respondent.  

What happens next?  

A senior police officer, who is authorised by the Police Commissioner and not involved in the original decision, will review the PPD.  

Within 28 days of receiving the request, the reviewing officer must decide to:  

• Confirm the PPD and keep it the same. 
• Revoke (cancel) the original PPD and issue a new one.  
• The new PPD will have the same aggrieved and respondent but may have the different named persons or conditions.  
• Revoke the original PPD and take no further action. 
• Revoke the original PPD and:  
• Apply to the court for a protection order. 
• Issue a police protection notice. 
• Take any other appropriate steps. 

Police will send you a letter explaining the decision and what you can do next. This includes:  

• Information about asking the Magistrates court to review the PPD. 
• Information about how to apply for a protection order. 

Important  

When you ask for a review more conditions might be added.  

If the PPD is revoked and no further steps are taken, it will not appear on the respondent’s domestic violence record.  Important note: any breaches before the PPD was revoked can still be prosecuted.  

If a police officer learns new information that may have impacted their decision to issue the PPD, they are required to review it internally.   

Court Review Process  

You can ask the Magistrates Court to review the PPD at any time while it is in place.  

Who can apply?  

• The aggrieved  
• The respondent  
• Someone authorised to act for the aggrieved  
• A person acting for the aggrieved under another law (such as a legal guardian) 

How to apply:  

• Fill out the official form.  
• Explain what you would like changed and why. 
• Include any evidence to support your request. 
• File the form at court. 

When you file for a review, the court treats it as a protection order application.  

If the respondent applies and wants an order against the aggrieved, this becomes a cross application.  

The PPD is still enforceable while the court reviews it. 

What happens next?  

Within one business day of receiving the application for review, the police commissioner must give the court:  

• A copy of the PPD. 
• A signed statement explaining why it was made. 
• A notice stating all parties involved will be told the date, time, and place for the hearing. 

The review will follow the normal court process for an application for a protection order.  

When considering the application the court can:  

• Make a protection order  
• Make an order to set aside (cancel) the PPD  
• Dismiss the application for review  

If the court sets aside the PPD, it will not appear on the respondent’s domestic violence history.  

If the court decides to dismiss the review, the PPD will continue until it expires. You can only apply again with the court’s permission.  

This factsheet includes general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice.