Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 December 2013
17 Dec 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Violence against Women
I welcome today’s debate, which has become an annual one because, sadly, the vexing problem of violence against women and children is not diminishing but is, rather, continuing to manifest itself in a range of crimes, including sexual offences; offences involving prostitution; pornography, including revenge pornography; trafficking; female genital mutilation; forced marriages; and honour crimes.
In the limited time that is available to me, I want to focus on two of the most serious crimes: rape and domestic abuse, which are primarily, although not exclusively, directed towards women. In these areas, a worrying trend is emerging. Although the incidence of other crimes, including violent crime, is falling, the statistics show that violence against women appears to be on the rise. Last year, more than 60,000 domestic abuse incidents were recorded, which is nearly double the figure of 10 years ago. In the same time period, incidents resulting in a report to the procurator fiscal have risen from 9,000 to more than 23,000. Rape and attempted rape are also at a historic high, and sexual assaults rose by 3 per cent last year. Although that increase is partly due to increases in awareness and the commendable efforts of the Government, voluntary organisations and the police to encourage victims to come forward, the statistics nonetheless make for depressing reading.
Violence against women can and does ruin lives. Based on a study that was conducted for the United Kingdom Government, violence against women is estimated to cost £4 billion a year. The emotional cost and damage is beyond measure.
Quite simply, for significant progress to be made on tackling and seeking to eliminate violence against women, the Parliament—with a majority Government, that means the Scottish National Party—must do more than merely reaffirm its commitment to tackling this violence in its ever-increasing forms.
The harsh reality is that women are being let down by sentencing that is not as robust as it should be. Only 12 per cent of those who were convicted of domestic abuse were handed custodial sentences, and the vast majority of them were sentenced to less than six months, which are the very sentences that the Scottish Government has taken steps to phase out.
Zero tolerance of domestic abuse is being let down by zero sentencing. When many of the perpetrators of this violence are being let off so lightly, it is not surprising that many women question whether the violence that is perpetrated against them is taken seriously. Furthermore, almost a third of those who are convicted in court are admonished and, to add insult to injury, the automatic early release of prisoners means that the vast majority of these violent criminals are released after serving only half their sentence. In 2007, the SNP promised to end that practice but no meaningful action has been taken to date.
In the limited time that is available to me, I want to focus on two of the most serious crimes: rape and domestic abuse, which are primarily, although not exclusively, directed towards women. In these areas, a worrying trend is emerging. Although the incidence of other crimes, including violent crime, is falling, the statistics show that violence against women appears to be on the rise. Last year, more than 60,000 domestic abuse incidents were recorded, which is nearly double the figure of 10 years ago. In the same time period, incidents resulting in a report to the procurator fiscal have risen from 9,000 to more than 23,000. Rape and attempted rape are also at a historic high, and sexual assaults rose by 3 per cent last year. Although that increase is partly due to increases in awareness and the commendable efforts of the Government, voluntary organisations and the police to encourage victims to come forward, the statistics nonetheless make for depressing reading.
Violence against women can and does ruin lives. Based on a study that was conducted for the United Kingdom Government, violence against women is estimated to cost £4 billion a year. The emotional cost and damage is beyond measure.
Quite simply, for significant progress to be made on tackling and seeking to eliminate violence against women, the Parliament—with a majority Government, that means the Scottish National Party—must do more than merely reaffirm its commitment to tackling this violence in its ever-increasing forms.
The harsh reality is that women are being let down by sentencing that is not as robust as it should be. Only 12 per cent of those who were convicted of domestic abuse were handed custodial sentences, and the vast majority of them were sentenced to less than six months, which are the very sentences that the Scottish Government has taken steps to phase out.
Zero tolerance of domestic abuse is being let down by zero sentencing. When many of the perpetrators of this violence are being let off so lightly, it is not surprising that many women question whether the violence that is perpetrated against them is taken seriously. Furthermore, almost a third of those who are convicted in court are admonished and, to add insult to injury, the automatic early release of prisoners means that the vast majority of these violent criminals are released after serving only half their sentence. In 2007, the SNP promised to end that practice but no meaningful action has been taken to date.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08612, in the name of Shona Robison, on violence against women. We are incredibly short for time, so memb...
The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
On behalf of the Scottish Government, I am delighted to open this debate and to have an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s unreserved commitment to tac...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I very much regret the necessity for the debate. I believe that all members across the chamber regret the fact that, in 21st century Scotland, we are still d...
Shona Robison
SNP
Does Jackie Baillie welcome, as I do, the focus that Police Scotland now has on ensuring that repeat offenders are kept under observation?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I absolutely do, and I will talk about Police Scotland in a minute.Scottish Women’s Aid tells us that two women will be murdered each week by their partner o...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome today’s debate, which has become an annual one because, sadly, the vexing problem of violence against women and children is not diminishing but is,...
Shona Robison
SNP
On the issue of prosecution, does Margaret Mitchell recognise that, where an incident of domestic abuse resulted in a crime or offence being recorded, a repo...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
I acknowledged that increase, and the awareness-raising work, at the beginning of my speech.To its eternal shame, the SNP voted against the amendment to the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to the open debate. We are extremely tight for time, so I will allow speeches of four minutes. That could change, so it would be helpful if members c...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I take this opportunity to highlight the invaluable work of the many organisations that are involved in helping women and children affected by violence again...
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
I need to ask you to start winding up.
Sandra White
SNP
We have mentioned domestic violence, but we also need to look at the austerity measures that are coming from the Westminster Government, particularly the bed...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I am sorry, Ms White, but you have gone over four minutes.16:33
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
We live in a country that recognises prostitution as violence against women, but we continue to prosecute the abused while letting the perpetrator off scot f...
Sandra White
SNP
I was at the same meeting and met the same people as Rhoda Grant. I listened to them, and not once did those people blame the Scottish Government at all. I a...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I am not talking about the content of the meeting that Sandra White and I attended—that was from someone who spoke to me.The Scottish Government had the oppo...
Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The member is just winding up.
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Scotland will end up becoming a haven for prostitution, for gangsters and for traffickers who see us as being complicit in the trade. At some point, somebody...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I am sorry, but your time is up, Ms Grant.16:37
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
It is important to recognise that, although we have taken huge strides towards eliminating violence against women and towards changing a culture that had acc...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You need to bring your remarks to a close.
James Dornan
SNP
The only thing on which I agree with Margaret Mitchell is the hope that this is not an annual debate.16:41
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
The phrase “violence against women” is made up of three little words, but involves so much pain. It encompasses domestic abuse, rape, child sexual abuse, sex...
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
SNP
There are two distinct but entwined threads in this debate. The first is that men’s violence against women continues to blight our country and to cause immen...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Will you start winding up, Ms McKelvie?
Christina McKelvie
SNP
A further 141 cases were reported to the national sex crimes unit but had not been in court. The situation creates a double negative, in that judges do not s...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
The motion reminds us of“the valuable contribution that voluntary and third sector organisations have made to the shaping of Scotland’s approach to violence ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You need to bring your remarks to a close.
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
Violence against women is a profound societal and cultural problem, but it is also perpetuated and reinforced by many of the products of that culture, which ...