This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Prosecutors tackle domestic abuse
24/11/2003
New domestic abuse guidance is to be developed for
everyone involved in the criminal justice system.
Scottish Women's Aid will provide input into the
guidance, to help ensure that prosecutors have a high-level
understanding of the issues involved.
Speaking at the annual Scottish Women's Aid conference
in Edinburgh today, the Solicitor General, Elish Angiolini
QC said:
"Domestic abuse is often hidden away behind closed doors
and, by its very nature, involves a very close relationship
between the victim and the offender. As a result,
domestic abuse is very complex and prosecutors must have a
sophisticated understanding of the issues involved if we
are to prosecute such crimes as effectively as
possible.
"That is why I am very pleased that Scottish Women's Aid
were happy to lend their expertise in the development of
our new guidance. In particular, it will help us better
understand the needs of victims and to help them find the
support and advice which they need.
Rowena Steele, National Co-ordinator for Scottish
Women's Aid said:
"This is an important step for the Crown Office and
Procurator Fiscal Service to take in order to help reassure
women who have experienced domestic abuse that their cases
will be dealt with seriously. We welcome this step and
hope that it will lead to a greater understanding by
everyone involved in the criminal justice system of the
effect domestic abuse can have on the women, children and
young people who experience it."
Elish Angiolini also announced that the COPFS will be
carrying out a full review and evaluation of the
prosecution of rape and sexual offences.
She said:
"This is an important exercise which will help us
understand how we are doing in the prosecution of sexual
offences. Like crimes involving domestic abuse, sexual
offending is a complex area and requires a sophisticated
set of skills from the prosecutor. This exercise will
allow us to take a close look at how we prosecute these
cases at the moment and, with the support from experts in
this area, to consider how we can do it better."