Domestic Abuse

CIH Scotland has provided an update of the work of the group it is co-chairing with Scottish Women's Aid on improving housing outcomes for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. Last summer the cabinet secretary for communities and local government, Aileen Campbell MSP, announced the creati

Domestic abuse charges have reached their highest figure since 2015-16, the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has revealed. The report Domestic abuse and stalking charges in Scotland 2019-20 showed that there were 30,718 charges reported in 2019-20 related to domestic abuse.

The police and courts could gain the power to remove suspected domestic abusers from victims' homes under proposed new legislation. Justice secretary Humza Yousaf announced that the Scottish Government's Domestic Abuse Bill will be considered "within weeks" and if passed would let police ban suspect

A new report from Scottish Women's Aid has revealed the devastating effects that COVID-19 - and measures to address the pandemic - have had on those experiencing domestic abuse and on the specialist services working to support survivors. 

A new online resource is being made available to help support people experiencing or at risk of, domestic abuse in Scotland. For professionals in the housing, social work, health, education and other sectors with an interest in the new domestic abuse legislation, the resource aims to improve underst

The UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) Scottish Knowledge Exchange Hub session on June 30 focused on the forthcoming domestic abuse and COVID-19 project. The participants in this subgroup had a range of backgrounds from across policy and practice, all with experience and interest i

Blairtummock Housing Association has launched a consultation into its proposed domestic abuse policy as it announced its support for the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Make a Stand campaign. By signing the pledge, Blairtummock has become part of a collective effort working to put the followi

Aberdeenshire Council has emphasised that the support available to victims of domestic abuse continues to be available throughout the pandemic.

NatWest Group, the owner of the Royal Bank of Scotland, has launched a £1 million fund to support victims of economic and domestic abuse, in a new partnership with SafeLives. SafeLives is a UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.

A Holyrood committee has called on the Scottish Government to set out the steps it is taking to ensure women and children at increased risk of domestic abuse during lockdown have access to the support services they need to escape violence. In a letter to the minister for older people and equalities,

Councils will get more support to deal with increased levels of domestic abuse and gender-based violence during the coronavirus outbreak, the Scottish Government has announced.

The City of Edinburgh Council has adopted a new policy which aims to give people affected by domestic abuse access a range of housing options and has called for councils to have the power to evict perpetrators from their homes in joint tenancy cases.

Aberdeen City Council is working with community partners to raise awareness of sources of help for people affected by domestic abuse during the current COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

As more people are isolated during the coronavirus pandemic, the charity Crimestoppers Scotland is launching a new campaign across the country appealing for information from people who are aware of domestic abuse happening to friends, family, work colleagues or neighbours.

Scottish Women’s Aid (SWA) and CIH Scotland have published new guidance for social landlords to assist them in responding robustly to domestic abuse as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.