Law change would ban abusers from homes of victims

Police and courts could get powers to remove suspected domestic abusers from victims’ homes under Scottish Government proposals.

Justice secretary Humza Yousaf announced that the Domestic Abuse Bill will be considered by parliament “within weeks” and, if passed, would allow police to ban suspected abusers from entering a property for a short period.

Officers could then apply to the courts for a longerterm protective order preventing the return of the suspected abuser for up to two months.

The justice secretary said the plans would give victims“vital breathing space, free from an abuser’s coercion and control, to decide the b est future option for them”, in addition to specialist support if required.

The proposed legislation also aims to make it easier for social landlords to transfer tenancy of a property from the perpetrator to the victim of domestic abuse if they have been married or lived together.

Dr Marsh a Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, said: “Domestic abuse is the leading cause of women’s homelessness in Scotland, with women experiencing domestic abuse often having to choose between staying in the home with a perpetrator or making themselves and their children homeless to get away from the abuse.

“We have long said that protective orders would make an immediate and significant difference for those women and children.”