West Dunbartonshire’s special team to tackle domestic abuse at a campaign meeting.
By Democrat reporter
New statistics showing that 1,681 crimes were recorded by Police Scotland during the first year of operation of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP, pictured below left, commented: “Lockdown has been a very frightening period for people, especially those living with abusive partners. The new Act should give victims confidence that psychological and emotional abuse is a crime, and that this coercive and controlling behaviour can take many forms.
“Experts have warned of a heightened risk of harm during this pandemic so the Scottish Government must ensure that support services have the resources they need to help people without delay.
“The last thing victims need is to get inundated with paperwork to prove they are homeless or to be left to fend for themselves in finding a new place. That is why Scottish Liberal Democrats have also called for new rights so that abusers can be the ones who are moved out of the home, not the victim.
“These are the types of changes that can help give people the confidence they need to escape abusive relationships.”