Domestic violence: UNISON backs bill to give women more protection

by Fiona Montgomery

UNISON has backed plans to give greater legal protection and support to women experiencing domestic violence.

A Bill proposed by Rhoda Grant MSP would make several changes to the law to ensure women have stronger protections.

The Civil Protection Orders and Access to Justice (Scotland) Bill aims to improve access to justice in three ways:

• removing the need to show a course of conduct before a non-harassment order can be granted by the civil or criminal court, meaning only one incident of harassing behaviour is required.

• making legal aid free for anyone applying to a civil court for an interdict with power of arrest or a non-harassment order, where domestic abuse is involved.

• making it a criminal offence to breach an interdict with power of arrest.

Rhoda Grant said at the launch of her consultation in December: “While we do have interdicts and non-harassment orders, these are not always available due to financial or evidential constraints.

“Also, the response is not always effective when further abuse does occur and these orders are breached. “It is unreasonable to expect people to have to pay for protection or to have to return to the civil courts, at their own expense, on numerous occasions to seek redress for breach of interdict.”

UNISON’s Scottish Women’s Committee and LGBT Committee have both given overwhelming support to the planned Bill.

Norma Black, vice-chair of the Scottish Women’s committee, said: “We are confident that the proposed Bill would make a major difference in offering greater legal protections and access to justice for victims of domestic violence.

“The benefits for individuals are immense and potentially life-saving. We hope MSPs will give cross-party support to the Bill.”

The UNISON response to the consultation on the proposed Bill is on the union’s website.

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