Domestic Abuse

Defendants will not be able to advance the legal defence that their partner was accidentally killed in a "sex game gone wrong" under new domestic abuse legislation being considered by MPs. Campaign group We Can't Consent To This has identified at least 60 women from the UK who have been killed in re

There has been a drop in crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, according to Scotland's chief statistician. In figures released today that analyse the impact of the coronavirus lockdown, a 13 per cent drop in domestic abuse crimes was reported as compared with April

Lockdown and social distancing measures may exacerbate the difficulties with corroborating domestic abuse, academics at the University of Aberdeen’s School of Law have warned. Dr Ilona Cairns and Dr Isla Callander – both of whom teach and research in the areas of crim

Police recorded 60,641 incidents of domestic abuse in 2018-19 – a two per cent rise on the previous year, new figures show. Levels of domestic abuse recorded by police in Scotland have remained relatively stable since 2011-12, with around 58,000 to 61,000 incidents each year.

Police and the courts will be given new powers to remove suspected domestic abusers from the homes of complainers or others at risk, the First Minister has announced. The Scottish government will introduce a bill to Parliament which will create new protective orders to keep a suspected perpetrator a

A man has pleaded guilty to offences under the new Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act, the first conviction since the new law was introduced on 1 April 2019. William James Murdoch, 43, of Glasgow, made his guilty plea at Glasgow Sheriff Court. He was sentenced yesterday.

New legislation that criminalises psychological domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour has come into force today. An awareness campaign to increase the public’s understanding of the legal nature of domestic abuse and to encourage victims of abuse to seek help has also been launc

Caroline Gillespie reflects on the development of the law on domestic abuse as new legislation comes into force today. Today, the law on domestic abuse changes in Scotland. The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 is now in force, creating a new crime of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour

A public education campaign aims to help a new law making psychological or emotional maltreatment a form of domestic abuse in Scotland. The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 creates a new offence of “abusive behaviour in relation to a partner or ex-partner” where physical and sexual vio

A Scottish council is the first in Europe to give its employees who have suffered domestic abuse "safe leave". South Ayrshire Council's policy will give employees up to 10 days' paid leave to allow them to seek help and support.

Garry Sturrock looks at the effects Scotland's new domestic abuse legislation will have on the law. In a landmark vote in the Scottish Parliament in February 2018, the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill (which promised to offer a tougher approach to the prosecution of domestic abuse in Scotland) was pas