Domestic Abuse

Researchers are to study police files of domestic abuse murders in Scotland in a bid to prevent future deaths. Academics from Glasgow Caledonian University will analyse cases to identify patterns of behaviour and highlight safeguarding opportunities.

Scotland’s domestic abuse legislation better reflects victims’ experiences, according to new research. By recognising abuse as a pattern of behaviour, the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 closer matches victims’ accounts of psychological and physical harm over time, according to

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC today has renewed her commitment to tackling the crime of domestic abuse effectively. She said that the festive holiday period can be particularly difficult for women living in fear of a partner or ex-partner.

The Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain KC, has renewed her pledge to tackle the crimes of domestic abuse and stalking with robust prosecution. She made the commitment as new figures were released, showing a 1.9 percent decrease in the number of charges reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fisca

A private member's bill proposing the establishment of a domestic abuse register similar to the sex offenders register has gone out for consultation. The proposed Domestic Abuse (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill, put forward by Scottish Conservative MSP Pam Gosal, would require those placed on the domest

A man convicted of two charges of abusive behaviour of a partner under separate statutes has lost an appeal against both conviction and sentence in respect of the more serious charge in the High Court of Justiciary.  CA was convicted of contraventions of section 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Scotlan

The Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain QC, has emphasised the commitment Scotland’s prosecutors have to ensuring "victims’ voices and experiences are at the heart of the criminal justice system" as she addressed an international conference in London. In a speech at the Heads of Prosecution Agen

Specialist online courts should be established to tackle domestic abuse cases, it has been recommended. The Virtual Trials National Project board has issued its report on the piloting of virtual summary trials. The board, led by Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle of Grampian, Highland and Islands, suggest

New measures targeted directly at keeping women and girls safer have been added to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill the government has announced. Under the changes, victims of domestic abuse will be allowed more time to report incidents of common assault or battery against them. Cu

The police recorded 65,251 incidents of domestic abuse in 2020-21, an increase of four per cent compared to the previous year. This is the fifth year in a row this figure has shown an increase.

The Lord Advocate has vowed to give renewed focus to efforts by Scotland’s prosecutors to tackle domestic abuse and stalking as the justice system recovers from the effects of the pandemic. Dorothy Bain QC made the commitment as new figures show the number of charges reported to the Crown Offi

Victims of domestic abuse are being urged to report incidents to police by Justice Secretary Keith Brown. The call comes after official figures show the police recorded 62,907 incidents of domestic abuse in 2019-20 – an increase of four per cent compared to the previous year.

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee has backed the underlying intentions behind the Scottish government’s new Domestic Abuse Bill, but warned that serious practical concerns raised during the course of its scrutiny need to be addressed. Both legal bodies and the police signalled

UK government business minister Paul Scully has today issued a rallying call to employers across the country to ensure their organisation is spotting signs of domestic abuse. In an open letter to all UK employers, the business minister has outlined a few steps they can take to build awareness of dom

Police and courts will gain powers to remove suspected abusers from victims’ homes and ban them from re‑entering under new legislation published today. The Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill, if passed by Parliament, will also allow social landlords to end or transfer a tenancy of a