Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 December 2013
17 Dec 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Violence against Women
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 debating the increasing level of violence against women and the actions that must be taken to tackle its consequences.
The abuse of women—whether domestic or otherwise—is rooted firmly in gender inequality. It is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men and, although it is often blamed on drink, drugs or the results of old firm games, we know the truth: the root cause is wider gender inequality.
Such abuse is ultimately an abuse of power. We see that imbalance of power all around us—in the underrepresentation of women in the chamber, in the boards and senior management teams of our public bodies and in our justice system, to name but a few. While that imbalance of power continues, so will acts of violence against women. Members should make no mistake—abuse is no respecter of money or class; it can happen to any woman at any time.
The behaviours that constitute abuse are not simply forms of physical violence; they also encompass mental and emotional abuse. Ultimately, that is all about control. We need to recognise that there is a continuum of abusive behaviour, which includes not only domestic abuse but stalking, harassment and other actions. The issues are interconnected and complex, but we need to be clear that whatever solutions are arrived at are firmly rooted in recognising that the issue is about gender inequality and an abuse of power. Unless we address that, we will—ultimately—not succeed.
I will illustrate the continuum with the case of a paramedic called Maureen Gordon, who experienced abuse not just at home but at work. She worked for the Scottish Ambulance Service and so did her ex-partner, who was a manager. He engaged in what can only be described as a campaign of terror. He hounded her at work, tried to run her over in an Ambulance Service car, threatened to chop her head off with an axe and engaged in a range of other intimidating behaviours of which there are too many to name.
Shop stewards in the GMB union complained to managers 29 times—and Maureen lost count of how many times she did so—in a two-year period, but the only result was that no apparent action was taken by the Ambulance Service. She had to take a case to the courts, where her ex-partner received a custodial sentence and the sheriff slammed the Ambulance Service for failing to act on her complaints.
That should not happen in any workplace, never mind in a public sector organisation such as the Scottish Ambulance Service. I ask the Minister for Communities and Sport—or the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing—to meet Maureen Gordon and her trade union, the GMB, to discuss her experience as a matter of urgency. I think that we would all agree that her experience is a disgrace and must not be allowed to happen in the future.
Maureen Gordon’s partner is now out of prison with a tag, having served only a matter of months. He has been seen waiting for her to show up outside her mother’s house and elsewhere. She appears to have been failed by her employers, and now by a justice system that allows her ex-partner to be out and about.
Maureen’s experience is not isolated; the numbers of women who are experiencing domestic abuse are rising. In 2003-04 there were 40,000 incidents of reported domestic abuse, but by 2013-13 that figure had risen to 60,000, which we know is probably just the tip of the iceberg. The detail that lies behind the 2012-13 figures is worth considering. Of all the reported cases, 61 per cent involved repeat victimisation. Of that number, 30 per cent had experienced a single incident, another 30 per cent had experienced two or three, and 39 per cent had experienced four or more previous incidents.
The abuse of women—whether domestic or otherwise—is rooted firmly in gender inequality. It is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men and, although it is often blamed on drink, drugs or the results of old firm games, we know the truth: the root cause is wider gender inequality.
Such abuse is ultimately an abuse of power. We see that imbalance of power all around us—in the underrepresentation of women in the chamber, in the boards and senior management teams of our public bodies and in our justice system, to name but a few. While that imbalance of power continues, so will acts of violence against women. Members should make no mistake—abuse is no respecter of money or class; it can happen to any woman at any time.
The behaviours that constitute abuse are not simply forms of physical violence; they also encompass mental and emotional abuse. Ultimately, that is all about control. We need to recognise that there is a continuum of abusive behaviour, which includes not only domestic abuse but stalking, harassment and other actions. The issues are interconnected and complex, but we need to be clear that whatever solutions are arrived at are firmly rooted in recognising that the issue is about gender inequality and an abuse of power. Unless we address that, we will—ultimately—not succeed.
I will illustrate the continuum with the case of a paramedic called Maureen Gordon, who experienced abuse not just at home but at work. She worked for the Scottish Ambulance Service and so did her ex-partner, who was a manager. He engaged in what can only be described as a campaign of terror. He hounded her at work, tried to run her over in an Ambulance Service car, threatened to chop her head off with an axe and engaged in a range of other intimidating behaviours of which there are too many to name.
Shop stewards in the GMB union complained to managers 29 times—and Maureen lost count of how many times she did so—in a two-year period, but the only result was that no apparent action was taken by the Ambulance Service. She had to take a case to the courts, where her ex-partner received a custodial sentence and the sheriff slammed the Ambulance Service for failing to act on her complaints.
That should not happen in any workplace, never mind in a public sector organisation such as the Scottish Ambulance Service. I ask the Minister for Communities and Sport—or the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing—to meet Maureen Gordon and her trade union, the GMB, to discuss her experience as a matter of urgency. I think that we would all agree that her experience is a disgrace and must not be allowed to happen in the future.
Maureen Gordon’s partner is now out of prison with a tag, having served only a matter of months. He has been seen waiting for her to show up outside her mother’s house and elsewhere. She appears to have been failed by her employers, and now by a justice system that allows her ex-partner to be out and about.
Maureen’s experience is not isolated; the numbers of women who are experiencing domestic abuse are rising. In 2003-04 there were 40,000 incidents of reported domestic abuse, but by 2013-13 that figure had risen to 60,000, which we know is probably just the tip of the iceberg. The detail that lies behind the 2012-13 figures is worth considering. Of all the reported cases, 61 per cent involved repeat victimisation. Of that number, 30 per cent had experienced a single incident, another 30 per cent had experienced two or three, and 39 per cent had experienced four or more previous incidents.
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 ...