Changes to domestic abuse laws in Scotland win support
Proposed changes to domestic violence laws in Scotland have gained the support of many MSPs.
The changes which are detailed in the Domestic Abuse Bill, are aimed at improving justice for victims of domestic abuse.
The bill was introduced last year by MSP Rhoda Grant, and is aimed at increasing justice for victims of domestic violence by enabling police and prosecutors to provide better responses to breached civil protection orders by dealing with them as a criminal offence.
The bill also recommended including a statutory definition of ”domestic abuse” in the legislation, which should be restricted to generally accepted categories of partners and not extended to cover additional family relationships.
Convener Bill Aitken MSP said: “The justice committee recognises the importance of Rhoda Grant’s bill and we have agreed to support the general principles of the bill at stage one.”
If you or someone you know have been affected by domestic violence and you would like to contact a counsellor in confidence then please visit the homepage of this site where you can use the search tool to locate a qualified professional in your local area. If you would like to view our fact-sheet on domestic violence please click here.