Out of control

Sophie Pike’s article on the new Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act which comes into force next year indicates that this legislation is likely to have a far-reaching impact (Friends of the Scotsman, 30 July).

She mentions the example of a father isolating a mother from family or friends may now be used in court to prevent or restrict that father’s contact with his children.

As we pointed out in our response to the Justice Committee, Families Need Fathers

Scotland often sees examples of coercive or controlling behaviour by mothers.

Many non-resident fathers have told us they have turned up to collect their children for agreed or court-ordered contact time to be told on the doorstep, “they’re not coming and there’s nothing you can do about it”. It is not always expressed so delicately.

Children are told their dad

isn’t interested in them when in fact the contact has been blocked unilaterally by the mother. Some have gone to the police and been told, even when they can show a court order, “there’s nothing we can do. It’s a civil matter”.

This Bill would at least allow the police to record a possible criminal offence.

We therefore hope that the training of Scottish police

officers on the new Act that is about to be conducted by Safe Lives will include this and our other examples, as well as those of controlling behaviour by fathers.

IAN MAXWELL National Manager, Families Need Fathers Scotland,

Palmerston Place, Edinburgh