New blitz on domestic abuse suspects

The court in Paisley is set to be given new powers to remove suspected domestic abusers from the homes of victims.

Justice bosses have announced fresh measures to protect those at risk of harm with new orders.

Holyrood is introducing a Bill which will create new protective orders to keep a suspected offender away from the home of someone at risk of abuse.

The move goes further than existing measures such as Non- Harassment Orders and Exclusion Orders, because protective orders won’t require the person at risk to make the application to the court themselves.

Police would be able to impose a shortterm order directly and to apply to a court to put in place a longer-term order.

Dr Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, said: “Domestic abuse is the leading cause of women’s homelessness in Scotland.

“This Bill, if passed, would be an immediate and significant improvement, offering children and women a breathing space as they seek safety.

“Without this legislation, women experiencing domestic abuse in Scotland will continue to have to choose between staying in the home with an abuser or making themselves and their children homeless to get away from the abuse.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added: “We need to change the reality that for many women and their children the only way to escape an abuser is to flee their home. It should not be the victims of abuse who lose their homes, it should be the perpetrators.

“So we will introduce a Bill in this parliament to give police and courts new powers to remove suspected perpetrators from the homes of those at risk.”