VICTIMS of domestic abuse from the region are among those invited to share their views as part of a Scottish Parliament inquiry into the financial implications of leaving an abusive relationship.
The Social Justice and Social Security Committee is running the inquiry to find out what support women leaving abusive relationships can access, how public sector and social security rules and practices take account of financial issues in these circumstances and how much information and advice women have access to.
Since 2018-19, Police Scotland has recorded over 60,000 incidents of domestic abuse each year, however, research from Scottish Women’s Aid suggests that the actual figure is much higher as not all incidents are reported to the police.
The Committee’s inquiry will explore economic abuse, a form of coercive control where an abuser restricts a person’s ability to get, use and keep money or other economic resources.
It is also covering the government’s work on violence against women and girls, including its Fund to Leave pilot project and its Equally Safe strategy. The fund offered women up to £1000 to pay for the essentials they need when leaving a relationship with an abusive partner and was delivered by Women’s Aid groups.
Committee convener Collette Stevenson said: “We know that over 60,000 incidents of domestic abuse are reported to the police in Scotland each year, and we want to use this inquiry to learn about the support available to women in this awful situation and get an idea of what else can be done.
“If you have any experience of this issue, or work for a charity or public body that supports women in this situation we want to hear from you. Share your views with us by responding to our call for views.”
The call for views will close on Thursday (February 20) and responses can be done anonymously.
It can be found at yourviews.parliament.scot/sjssc/financial-considerations-leaving-abusive-relations
