Police given more powers to protect domestic abuse victims
Police and courts in Scotland are being given more powers to protect people at risk of domestic abuse.
Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said the new legislation passed this week represents “a significant shift forward” for victims.
The Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill will enable police and courts to ban suspected abusers from re-entering the home and from approaching or contacting the person at risk for a period of time to enable them to consider their longer-term options around safety and housing.
The Bill will also allow social landlords to end or transfer the tenancy of a perpetrator of domestic abuse to the victim.
The Scottish government says that together, these measures should reduce the risk that victims of domestic abuse end up having to become homeless in order to escape their abuser.
Mr Yousaf said: “This Bill is building on our legislation which gave police and prosecutors greater powers to target those who engage in coercive or controlling behaviour.
“A person’s home should be a place of safety and we know that is not always the case. Women are disproportionately victims of domestic abuse with four in five victims being women.
“This Bill represents a significant shift forward in ensuring protection can be put in place for women, in particular, from domestic abuse
“The protections in the Bill through the new scheme of domestic abuse protection notices and orders will make a real difference to the lives of many.”
Dr Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, said: “The passing of this Bill is a milestone moment for women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse who for years have asked us why it should be them, rather than their abusers, who have to leave their homes, pets and belongings to seek safety.
“Domestic abuse is the leading cause of women’s homelessness in Scotland and this Bill will make an immediate and significant difference for those women and their children – granting them some safety and breathing space to seek support, to explore their housing options, and to consider life without an abuser in the next room controlling every move they even think about making.
“This legislation fills a giant gap in Scottish law by upholding the rights of women and children living with domestic abuse to stay safely in their own homes if they choose, and we look forward to working with the Government, and other partners, on implementation and evaluation.”
Callum Chomczuk, national director for the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland, said the passing of the Bill will improve the housing rights of victim-survivors.
He added: “We know domestic abuse is the principle cause of homelessness for women but the law did not previously give enough protection to victim-survivors to safeguard their housing rights. This legislation will now give victims of domestic abuse housing rights and options that were previously unavailable – including the option of staying in their home, a key ask from our domestic abuse campaign, Make a Stand.”