Views are being sought for a new law that would create a register for convicted domestic abusers.
The Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, tabled by Scottish Tory MSP Pam Gosal, is currently being considered by Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee.
If passed, the bill would introduce notification requirements for certain perpetrators convicted of domestic abuse offences – similar to the sex offenders’ register.
It would mean abusers would have to keep police informed of their address and passport details.
The bill would also require schools to educate pupils on domestic abuse and healthy relationships.
Additionally, it would also place a data collection duty on Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and charities working with victims of domestic abuse, and an annual reporting duty on the Scottish government.
Fiona Inglis has campaigned for a register for domestic abusers since the murder of her daughter, Claire, in 2021.
Christopher McGowan violently beat and strangled the mother-of-one. He also burned the 28-year-old with a lighter and jammed a wet wipe down her throat.
McGowan, who had a history of domestic abuse, was found to have had a lengthy criminal record and had been bailed to his victim’s home address a few weeks before the fatal attack.
He was handed a life sentence with at least 23 years behind bars for the murder.
Ms Inglis told Sky News: “Domestic violence is an epidemic now and something needs to be done.”
She said she was unsure whether a register would have saved her daughter’s life – as McGowan was a “prolific lawbreaker” – but praised Dr Gosal’s “hard work” in attempting to protect other potential victims.
Ms Inglis added: “Claire would have been 32 tomorrow. Total waste of a life.”
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Police Scotland recorded 63,867 incidents of domestic abuse in 2023-24, an increase of 3% compared with the previous year.
MSP Audrey Nicoll, committee convener, said: “Our committee is acutely aware of the devastating impact domestic abuse has on individuals, families and communities across Scotland, and the latest statistics on domestic abuse show the scale of this issue.
“This bill presents a range of proposals aiming to prevent domestic abuse, including statutory data collection and improving school education, but we want to hear views from individuals and organisations on whether they support these proposals.
“We are particularly keen to hear from those with lived experience, their families and frontline professionals on if they agree with the proposals in this bill, or if they feel other actions are required to tackle domestic abuse in Scotland.”
Read more from Sky News:
‘Staggering’ number of domestic abuse victims taking own lives
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Dr Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, described her bill as an important step to help “tackle the scourge of domestic abuse across Scotland”.
She added: “I welcomed the opportunity to present my Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) bill to the committee recently and highlight how it will protect victims through creating a domestic abuse register.
“It will also commit to giving police more resources to tackle these appalling crimes and ensure the public have greater knowledge of domestic abuse.
“I would encourage everyone to give their views on my bill to the committee so this bill can take another step towards becoming a reality.”
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The call for views will close on 15 September.
