Wendy: REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR A DOMESTIC ABUSE COURT IN PAISLEY

Campaigning local politician Wendy Alexander has today urged the Scottish Government to put tackling domestic abuse at the heart of its policies following an official report outlining the scale of the problem.

The report released today by the Scottish government found that “more than half (56%) of adults experiencing at least one form of serious sexual assault in Scotland were assaulted by their partner”.

The report also found that six per cent of adults as measured by the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey in 2008-09 had experienced at least one form of stalking and harassment in the last 12 months, with “almost two-thirds (65%) of those experiencing at least one form of stalking and harassment in the last 12 months knew the offender”. 

Wendy said:

“These findings are a stark reminder of the toll domestic abuse continues to take. We know that domestic violence rises around the holiday season. Women in Renfrewshire need to know that if they report violence in the home – not just the police – but also the courts system will treat them with proper respect. The police have made great strides in recent years – but the Courts still have to show improvements in handling domestic abuse cases.

“In Glasgow real progress has been made with a dedicated domestic abuse court – which can bring much needed sensitivity to these cases.  I want a domestic abuse court in Paisley to give Renfrewshire women the same protection offered to those in Glasgow. I have written to Kenny McAskill urging early action. The Scottish Government is saying no currently but I hope this report showing half the sexual assaults in this country are by partners will lead them to look again at rolling out domestic abuse courts to places like Paisley.

“It is also high time the Scottish Government backed Rhoda Grant’s Bill which seeks to give people greater access to protection from harassment and would ensure that any harassment would be dealt with immediately before matters escalate and potentially put women and children in danger.”