Domestic Abuse

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 24 February 2011.

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Photo of Marlyn Glen Marlyn Glen Labour

1. To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to reduce the level of domestic abuse. (S3O-13076)

Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

Domestic abuse is completely unacceptable. That is why the Government acted swiftly to legislate last year to close a gap in the criminal law so that cases of domestic abuse can continue to be prosecuted under our new offence of threatening or abusive behaviour. The Government will carry on working closely with all key partners, including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the police and the key support agencies to ensure that perpetrators are held to account and that victims have access to appropriate support. We will continue to tackle the issue head on, with funding of more than £11 million proposed for 2011-12, which is 40 per cent higher than the budget in 2006-07.

Photo of Marlyn Glen Marlyn Glen Labour

How will the minister and the Scottish Government encourage the necessary changes in attitude as promoted by Scottish Women’s Aid’s stop campaign? How will he further support the roll-out of practices such as the toolkit for domestic abuse courts and the essential provision of specialist advocacy services?

Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

I acknowledge Marlyn Glen’s long-standing interest in and campaigning on the issue. On her first question, the Scottish Government supports Scottish Women’s Aid’s together we can stop it campaign. My colleague the Minister for Housing and Communities signed up to that campaign at its launch. On the domestic abuse court in Glasgow, the member correctly says that we have developed from that a toolkit that we believe should be applied and available throughout Scotland so that the advantages that are gained from that successful experience in Glasgow can be felt throughout the country. We will continue to work with all our colleagues to ensure that that takes place.

Photo of Anne McLaughlin Anne McLaughlin Scottish National Party

I support all the work with female victims of domestic violence, but I ask the Government for reassurances that, in its efforts on the issue, it will take into account the male victims of domestic violence. The Public Petitions Committee finally closed a petition on that issue on Tuesday and acknowledged the progress that the Scottish Government has made in response to the petition. However, members pledged to continue to highlight the issue. I simply seek reassurance from the minister that the Scottish Government will recognise male victims and children in all its work on domestic abuse.

Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

I acknowledge Anne McLaughlin’s role in campaigning on that important matter. As many members from all political parties have done, she rightly raises the issues of violence against men. She makes excellent points. We believe strongly that services should be available to meet the needs of anyone who experiences abuse—women or men. We have provided funding for the men’s advice line so that male victims can receive support and information. We are exploring with male victims and organisations that support them what the service need is, so I can give Anne McLaughlin the assurance that she seeks.

Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

The minister will be aware of the widespread concern among support groups for the victims of domestic abuse about the lack of availability of short-term sentences, which the Government has now removed. Victims of domestic abuse are particularly concerned because short-term sentences afforded them respite. Do the Scottish Government and the minister acknowledge those concerns? How does the minister propose to address them?

Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

As the First Minister said earlier, serious offences receive severe sentences. Any serious offence of, for example, assault will be extremely seriously dealt with by the court. It is for the court to decide the appropriate sentence under the law that the Parliament has passed. Mr Lamont will, I hope, agree that we also need to address Scotland’s problem with alcohol. Although alcohol can never be an excuse for domestic violence, it is sadly an exacerbating factor in many cases of violence against women. I hope that he, too, will therefore recognise that we need to take measures such as minimum pricing that will more effectively address the abuse of alcohol.

Photo of Cathy Peattie Cathy Peattie Labour

I welcome the increase in conviction rates, and in particular the work of Central Scotland Police. Does the minister agree that it is important that the partnership work between police and organisations such as Women’s Aid continues, and that there is sustained support for that?

It is really important that the minister and others consider proportionality in relation to violence against women, including domestic abuse. It is clear that the statistics are much higher for women, who make up more than 90 per cent of those who are reported as being subject to domestic abuse. Comparisons cannot be made when we are talking about male and female abuse.

Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

Cathy Peattie is quite correct to say that the vast majority of victims of domestic abuse are female: that is the case, although men are also abused. I certainly agree with her, and I acknowledge that she too has campaigned on the issue for many years, as have people from all parties in the chamber.

It is essential that we work closely with the police, the Crown Office and the fiscals, as we have been doing. I take this opportunity to praise the proactive work that has been done throughout the country. For example, police officers contact and visit—especially before certain significant football matches—individuals who are known to have committed domestic abuse in the past, and point out that if they do the same thing again, there is only one place that they will end up, and that is in a cell.

We acknowledge the work of the police and the justice authorities in that regard, and I am pleased that it has such support among members on all sides of the chamber.