For too many, the system is in a state of collapse

For far too many of the most vulnerable women, the criminal justice system is in a state of collapse.

Despite positive changes that have been made, just as many women are at risk of violence as they ever were.

Part of the reason for that is because of the narrative and acceptance of the porn accessible by mobile phone which suggests women like violent sex and normalises such behaviour.

Sometimes, the same people who access or look at that kind of material are in the police or working with other agencies within the criminal justice system. That’s why there needs to be a major move to tackle that kind of culture within the system as well as in society as a whole.

As well as investing in changing the criminal justice system from within, we need to invest in public education programmes, support services and refuges, as well as making specialist domestic abuse courts available. We have so much more to learn from other countries such as Australia, Canada and the US.

Our police super complaint, which investigated the abusive behaviour of officers across Scotland as well as the rest of the UK, showed widespread evidence of police perpetrator abuse towards partners and women.

That is why we must have zero tolerance towards such attitudes and locker room behaviour and a robust independent system for reporting which ensures their colleagues are not allowed to investigate complaints.

We must have proper vetting procedures and if officers are ever accused of domestic abuse or sexual violence they must be immediately suspended.

They cannot simply be allowed to continue working in their roles as police officers or they will never gain the trust of victims.