NEW laws designed to combat domestic abuse will not work without more education and services for survivors, English experts say.
The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, which comes into force next Monday, creates a new statutory offence of domestic abuse that recognises the devastating impact non-physical harm can cause.
As well as physical violence, it will cover coercive control, which can see perpetrators isolate partners from friends and family, regulate their activities and spending and even dictate their movements, clothing and speech.
The Scottish Government hopes the measure will help eradicate the problem, which predominantly effects women.
Eradicating gender-based violence is a “key priority” for the Scottish Government.
But experts in England, where a similar change was enacted in December 2015, say the law change will not achieve its aims without investment in specialist training for police, prosecutors, social workers and more.
And unless cash is spent on high profile awareness campaigns, reports, prosecutions and convictions are expected to be low.
Sian Hawkins, of the English Women’s Aid network, said: “This alone is not going to change things dramatically. It has to be part of a bigger package of things that can move forward like training and awareness-raising.
“Every year there are around 90,000 prosecutions for domestic abuse in England and Wales.
“There have been relatively low levels of convictions and prosecutions for coercive control.
“We are still seeing very low numbers. Clearly there is more that needs to be done.”
In December figures obtained by the BBC showed most cases were dropped without charge in the first two and a half years that coercive behaviour was on the statute books in England and Wales.
More than 7000 people were arrested between January 2016 and July 2018, but fewer than 1200 were charged and the Home Office said around 200 had been convicted since the introduction of the law.
Mandip Ghai, senior legal officer at London-based law charity Rights of Women, said: “Prosecutions and conviction rates are still low.
“We still get calls from service users who have reported behaviour to police, but police have failed to recognise that an offence has taken place. We have to advise them to ask the police to review the decision and consider the offence of coercive and controlling behaviour.
“There are lots of reasons why survivors might decide to withdraw their statements.
“There is a huge lack of funding for support and services for survivors. Improved services and options for survivors leaving an abusive partner, and improvements in the criminal justice system and police responses may result in more survivors supporting prosecutions.”
On the implications for Scotland, she went on: “Laws on their own are not enough.
“There will need to be training for the police and all professionals involved, investment in services for survivors, and public education about the dynamics of abuse.”
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The new legislation is a landmark moment in tackling domestic abuse and allows the justice system to hold perpetrators to account.
“We have worked with partners to develop and fund essential training in recognising coercive and controlling behaviour. We are also running a public awareness campaign as part of our commitment to safeguard those at risk.”
For support or advice about domestic abuse, visit www.womensaid.scot or call the helpline on 0800 027 1234.
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