Training to help cops spot abuseaheadofnewlaws
POLICE officers are to get special training to help them spot “insidious and damaging” forms of abuse ahead of new legislation being passed.
The Scottish Government has pledged to fund training for about 14,000 officers and staff prior to the specific outlawing of psychological abuse and controlling behaviour.
It is not currently possible to convict an individual on the basis of a course of conduct that includes psychological abuse, such as coercive and controlling behaviour.
But the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, currently going through Holyrood, will criminalise emotional and psychological abuse.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson introduced the Bill to the Scottish Parliament in March and has now pledged to provide ad- ditional funding specifically to train frontline officers and staff.
This is likely to cost several hundred thousand pounds, with the cash coming from the £20 million set aside to tackle violence against women and girls over the period 2015-18.
Mr Matheson said: “It’s important that as we grant new powers to police to investigate one of society’s most despicable crimes, we help ensure frontline officers and call handlers are equipped to do this.
“Police deal with the damage caused by domestic abuse day in day out, and this training will help them to identify some of the more insidious and damaging behaviours that perpetrators use to control their partner or ex-partner which are covered within the new offence.”
Assistant Chief Constable Gillian MacDonald of Police Scotland said the force was “committed to reducing the harm caused by domestic abuse and is working with partners to eradicate it from Scotland”.