This week, I laid a motion in parliament on domestic abuse, highlighting the need for specialist courts. I believe these courts are key if we want to effectively prevent and prosecute domestic abuse. Women’s aid charities have been vocal in their support for them.
Court cases can put victims at emotional or physical risk. This means we need processes that minimise these risks and take into account the circumstances victims face, including at the sentencing stage.
As it stands, the statistics suggest we’re moving backwards, not forwards, when it comes to tackling domestic abuse. Last month, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service published figures that showed the number of charges related to domestic abuse last year was the highest it has been in five years.
This must be a wake-up call to tackle this issue by ensuring effective and specialised resources are in place