03 June 2010

Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has lodged a Parliamentary Bill to protect people from domestic abuse.

If her members’ bill goes through it will make it easier for victims of domestic abuse to get help.

Her member’s bill contains three main proposals:

- Make it a criminal offence to breach an interdict with a power of arrest.

- Make legal aid free to all for an application in a civil court for an interdict with a power of arrest or a non-harassment order involving domestic abuse.

- Remove the requirement to show a course of conduct before a non-harassment order could be granted by either the civil or criminal court, allowing an order to be obtained after only one incident of harassing behaviour.

Rhoda Grant said: "The Scottish Parliament has made great progress on dealing with domestic abuse, but we have some way to go before women, children and others who suffer abuse will be able to sleep safely in their beds without the fear of attack or intimidation.

"The cost of obtaining an interdict can be a huge barrier to protecting women and children from abuse. We owe it to all victims of domestic abuse to ensure that we do everything we can to make the law work for them.

"As a society we have a duty to protect people from harm and that is what I am seeking to do through this Bill.

"I hope every member of the Scottish Parliament can get behind this move and ensure that these protections for women and children can become law."

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