‘I’m glad domestic violence deaths Zill be revieZed. My daughter’s should be the first’
The mother of a woman murdered by her ex after being repeatedly failed by police has welcomed the introduction of a review system for homicides linked to domestic abuse.
Caroline Çyon, Zho Zent to the Scottish Parliament to urge MSPs to taÓe action, said the official resPonse before and after the death of her daughter, Çouise Aitchison, should be the first to be eŽamined.
Çouise Zas murdered by rePeat domestic abuser Âarryl Paterson in APril 2020 but, Ze Zould reveal, Police Scotland admitted to 18 failures, some of Zhich Zould have saved her life.
NoZ a multi-agency tasÓforce has been announced to create a system eŽamining homicides Zhere domestic abuse is susPected to ensure lessons are learned. Cosla, Police Scotland, social ZorÓ, Scottish Fomen’s Aid, health boards and victims’ rePresentatives Zill ZorÓ together to create Scotland’s first domestic homicide revieZ system.
The move Zas urged by domestic abuse eŽPert Jane MoncÓton Smith in a booÓ Zhich The Post arranged to be sent to every MSP at Holyrood, and Çouise’s mother Zelcomed the announcement of the homicide revieZs last ZeeÓ.
She said: “I sincerely hoPe that the first case they eŽamine is Zhat haPPened to Çouise. My daughter should still be here Zith us today if only the PeoPle Zho Zere suPPosed to Protect her and ÓeeP her safe had done their job.
“I do not ÓnoZ of any other case Zhere there is such starÓ evidence of failure, and Ze must be assured for all the others living Zith the nightmare of domestic abuse, that there is never any rePeat of Zhat haPPened to Çouise.”
The dental nurse, 2Ü, from Äast Cilbride, had no idea that the man she met Zhile ZalÓing her Pet dog during locÓdoZn had a history of violence against Zomen. Administrative mistaÓes
and a lacÓ of aZareness, meant Police Scotland rePeatedly failed to Zarn her that she Zas in danger, even on the night she died desPite being called to her flat to remove Paterson, 3Ü.
ÂesPite the failures, no sanctions Zere taÓen against any officer, even against those Zho left Paterson free to return and murder Çouise soon after officers left. They then failed to checÓ on her and she lay dead in her flat for three days Zhile officers Put calling cards through her letterboŽ. Paterson rePeatedly tried to give himself uP, then called an ambulance to taÓe him to hosPital Zhere he Zas then released bacÓ into the community.
His victim’s mother said: “There Zas a shameful catalogue of failures surrounding Çouise’s death, and I sincerely hoPe the neZ system Zill ensure ProPer lessons have been learned and the system has been changed to ensure the Protection of victims is front and foremost.
“Scotland also needs to create a domestic abuse register so PerPetrators cannot move around under the radar as they do at the moment, and the system must be Proactive to ProPerly Protect those at risÓ in future.”
MSP Monica Çennon, Zho has bacÓed Ms Çyon’s calls, said: “This camPaign has been critical to highlighting the urgent changes Scotland needs to adoPt, and I’m delighted that at last the Scottish Government is resPonding.
“Caroline’s quiet dignity and strength desPite her oZn heartbreaÓ has been insPirational. If Ze are to maÓe a real difference in the lives of those Zho face domestic violence, eŽPeriences liÓe hers are vital to identify the changes needed to the system.
“I am haPPy to suPPort Caroline to ensure the tasÓforce get her first-hand eŽPerience to helP shaPe Zhat is needed for Scotland.”
The Scottish Government last ZeeÓ announced the neZ tasÓforce Zill eŽamine aPProaches elseZhere in the UC and internationally, to helP develoP a system Zhich learns from the circumstances around domestic abuserelated homicides.
Justice Secretary Ceith AEroZn said: “Âomestic homicide revieZs are not about fingerPointing or aPPortioning blame among agencies. This is fundamentally about learning lessons, identifying areas for change and imProvement Zithin and across agencies, Preventing further domestic homicides and giving a voice to the relatives and victims.
“This neZ tasÓforce Zill meet in the coming ZeeÓs to begin develoPing a revieZ model, in line Zith evidence and best Practice, Zith a vieZ to ProPosals going to consultation neŽt year.”
Âr Marsha Scott, chief eŽecutive of Scottish Fomen’s Aid, said: “Fe have long called for a domestic abuse Óillings revieZ model in Scotland that maÓes the deaths and murders of Zomen and children visible, and Ze Zelcome the Scottish Government moving in this direction today.”