NEW domestic abuse laws will be a “game changer” for Scotland’s children, it is claimed.
Legislation coming into force next week will cover both violence and coervice control and, in a UK first, make the impact on children an aggravating factor which can lead to tougher sentencing.
Around 3000 police officers and staff have so far undergone face-to-face training sessions geared at preparing them for the change, which it is hoped will reduce traumatic experiences for children.
Towards 15,000 people in Police Scotland will take part by spring next year, with 1000 set to become “domestic abuse champions” to ensure best practice for local teams.
Lucy McDonald of SafeLives, the charity behind the training, said one of participants suggested the shift will be a “game changer” for families. She told The National: “I genuinely believe it is. Whole families experience domestic abuse, children aren’t just witnesses.
“I have been so impressed and enthused with the attitudes we’ve seen. They want to understand this, they come out feeling that they do get it and the next they are called out, they know what to do.”
All of Police Scotland’s executive team, including Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, will undergo training.
Detective Superintendent Gordon McCreadie says the sessions help officers examine the “myths and misconceptions that exist across the whole society, such as ‘why do they not leave?’” He said: “Our officers want to make a difference and they can get frustrated that they are not able to help people in the way they would like. This training helps them understand why somebody can’t just go out the door with them.
“When a person is leaving or has left, they are at heightened risk.”
On the likely impact, McCreadie said: “We have to be careful we don’t just go looking to quantify the results too much. We might be able to count the conviction rate and the number of charges but what is difficult to count is, have we minimised adverse childhood experiences? We might not know that for a number of years.
“I’m 100% sure this will change the lives of many members of the public.”
The comments came as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf met abuse survivors at Glasgow East Women’s Aid.
Dr Marsha Scott, head of Scottish Women’s Aid, said: “Women and children have been telling us for 40 years that it is the emotional abuse and controlling behaviours of domestic abuse that have the most traumatic effect, that trap them in dangerous relationships with abusive partners and ex-partners. Now these behaviours will be crimes in Scotland and how well we police and prosecute them will say much about our commitment to ending domestic abuse.”
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