This week, I was very proud to officially launch the consultation for my very first Members’ Bill in the Scottish Parliament: the Domestic Abuse (Prevention) Bill.
There is clearly still much more to do to tackle this issue. The number of domestic abuse incidents is at a record high level, with 65,251 domestic abuse incidents being reported in 2020-21. This is an increase of 2,344 from the previous year. But just as shocking as the number of domestic abuse incidents reported last year is the fact that half of these incidents were committed by reoffenders.
This is why I am proud to have launched my proposal for a Bill which would seek to introduce a Domestic Abuse Register. Similar to the Sex Offenders’ Register, this would ensure that abusers have to inform the Police of any change in their circumstances, preventing them from moving unchecked from area to area, and from relationship to relationship.
I hope that such a register will allow the Police to work together with local authorities to keep potential victims safe. But as well as this, I would hope that the introduction of this register would be a significant step towards finally giving domestic abuse the stigma it truly deserves.
My proposed Bill would also introduce mandatory rehabilitation measures for those convicted of domestic abuse – such as restorative justice – to ensure that abusers are given every possible opportunity to change their ways for good. It would also force the government to produce reports setting out what they are doing to improve access to domestic abuse services for those who currently struggle to access them – including BAME communities and disabled people.
But prevention of domestic abuse cannot just focus on Scotland’s justice system – it must include our education system too. Children should be learning from a young age just about the dangers of domestic abuse and the devastating impact it can have on households. There have been some efforts to introduce this subject to Scottish classrooms, but my proposed Bill goes one step further than this and would seek to introduce mandatory education on domestic abuse into every school in the country.
With the consultation for my proposed Bill now open, I am now handing the floor over you. I want to hear from every domestic abuse organisation, every organisation with experience of working with victims, anyone who has experienced this crime first-hand, and anyone who cares about doing more to tackle this issue.
This proposed Bill is yours to shape, and I want to hear as many views as possible to ensure that we get this vital legislation right. The war against domestic abuse may be a long-term battle, but I truly believe that proposals such as these will be a key step towards finally winning it.
For further information on my proposed Domestic Abuse (Prevention) Bill and to fill in the consultation, please visit:
Proposed Domestic Abuse Register Scotland Bill | Scottish Parliament Website
Throughout this process I will be happy to speak to victims or survivors of domestic abuse – please do not hesitate to contact me at: Pam.Gosal.MSP@parliament.scot.