| MSPs in call to step up use of Domestic Abuse Act |
| More action is needed to implement the 2018 Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act and tackle domestic abuse, according to a new report from Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee. As part of post-legislative scrutiny, the committee has been reviewing the impact of the Act, and its key provision creating a new offence around non-physical forms of abuse such as coercive control. The MSPs say there is strong support for the Act among prosecutors, law enforcement and women’s groups, and that it is beginning to have an impact, including increasing prosecutions. However, they conclude that progress has been too slow and call on several issues to be addressed, including whether current sentencing policy for offences and for breaches is providing adequate protection for victims. "It is clear to the committee that the original communication campaign around the 2018 Act was pivotal in raising public awareness of these issues at the time", said committee convenor Audrey Nicoll MSP. "We are calling on the Scottish Government to consider running an updated campaign, including one which targets children, as a way to continue to effectively highlight the various forms of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse as well as violence against women and girls is completely unacceptable and it is clear that more should be done to tackle this issue and support both victims and survivors". |
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