Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has welcomed the introduction of a bill in the Scottish Parliament which would create a domestic abuse register in Scotland.
This move by Mr Halcro Johnston’s Scottish Conservative colleague Pam Gosal MSP to create a new register of domestic abusers follows sustained consultation with support organisations and would operate on the same basis as the established sex offenders register.
Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“I’m pleased to give my backing to what is such an important bill by my Scottish Conservative colleague Pam Gosal.
“In my own region of the Highlands and Islands, too often concerns about domestic abuse can slip under the radar. And the rurality of much of the area can leave victims feeling isolated and without support, while those who perpetrate domestic abuse move on without recourse to their next victim.
“It is also important that change is engrained in our society too, and that is why the introduction into the curriculum of awareness about the signs of domestic abuse at a school-age level should play a crucial role in alerting the next generation to harmful behaviours.
“With cases of domestic abuse rising year-on-year for the last five years, the creation of such a register should be sensible cross-party action. I hope that, after a rigorous process of scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament, it will find cross-party support and will pass speedily in to legislation.
“It’s time to put victims and their families first, and use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to send a decisive message that there’s no place in Scotland for domestic abuse.”
You can find out more about the Bill and respond to the consultation here https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/proposals-for-bills/proposed-domestic-abuse-register-scotland-bill
