« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: FINDINGS FROM THE 2000 SCOTTISH CRIME SURVEY
CHAPTER FIVE: POLICY RESPONSES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SCOTLAND
Attention to the problem of domestic violence in Scotland has increased in recent years. As part of this, the Scottish Partnership on Domestic Abuse was established in June 1998 in order to deliver a Strategy on Domestic Abuse. This strategy was intended to address the Government's policy priorities relating to violence against women, while also taking into account the impact of domestic violence on children and young people and the need for effective intervention strategies to prevent male violence against female partners and their children. In 1999 the Partnership agreed to replace the term 'domestic violence' with 'domestic abuse'. The reason for this change in terminology relates to the acknowledgement of the impact of emotional and psychological abuse within relationships (Henderson, 2000).
In 1998 'Preventing Violence Against Women - a Scottish Office Action Plan' was published and circulated for consultation. Building on this Action Plan and taking account of the comments received, 'Preventing Violence Against Women: Action Across the Scottish Executive' was published on 4 October 2001. It sets out action being taken or to be taken throughout the Executive to tackle the problem of violence against women.
The Partnership reported to Ministers with comprehensive recommendations in November 2000 and produced a National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland, including an Action Plan, Good Practice Guidelines and Service Standards which sets out what anyone approaching an agency about domestic abuse should expect. The Partnership has been succeeded by a National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland, which will drive forward the strategy and ensure that the Action Plan is carried out. Part of this process will be the establishment of working groups to focus on the areas of provision, protection and prevention.
The findings from the SCS 2000 offer a picture of the experience of domestic violence as this is occurring within Scotland at this time. The policy response to domestic abuse being set out by the Scottish Executive is their attempt at combating, through a range of measures, this significant and ongoing problem. Part of this response is the funding of a national advertising campaign, currently in its third year, which uses the statistic from the 1996 SCS of 1 in 5 women in Scotland experiencing domestic abuse at some point in their lives. In addition, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline was established in June 2000, the first such helpline in Scotland.
« Previous | Contents | Next »