Scottish Government criticised over delay delivering violence strategy promise

The Scottish Government has faced criticism from local government partners after it emerged a key plank of Scotland’s national strategy to eradicate violence against women and girls has yet to be delivered.  

Equally Safe, which is the first strategy of its kind in Scotland having been produced by Scottish Government and local government body COSLA, committed to setting up a Violence Against Women Joint Strategic Board.

The board, which is to be chaired jointly by government and COSLA and involve Police Scotland as well as other stakeholders, is intended to oversee delivery of the strategy and drive momentum.

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However, a year to the day since the strategy was launched, the board has yet to be established with the Scottish Government confirming to Holyrood its first meeting is not expected until the end of summer.

A government consultation on proposals to create specific criminal offences for domestic abuse as well as ‘revenge porn’ closed last week with officials now assessing responses.

A submission entered by COSLA expressed their concern at the “lack of activity” surrounding the delivery of Equally Safe, with the Joint Strategic Board yet to get up and running. 

“Despite representations being made by COSLA and significant calls from the third sector, the delivery and governance mechanisms, including the Joint Strategic Board, have not yet been established,” reads their submission.

“As the Scottish Government said at the time of publication, the strategy is designed to help organisations and partners align their work with one shared, clear goal to help create a strong, flourishing Scotland where women and girls live free from violence and the attitudes that help perpetuate it.

“It would therefore not only be remiss of the Scottish Government to drift away from the Equally Safe strategy but it also leaves key agencies with considerable uncertainty.

“We hope that this consultation represents a continued commitment on the part of the Scottish Government to Equally Safe.”

The development comes as latest figures published by Police Scotland showed the number of domestic abuse incidents reported in the last year increased 1.8 per cent to a total of 59,471.

Chief executive of Scottish Women's Aid, Dr Marsha Scott, said: "While a year is undoubtedly too long between the publication of the Equally Safe Strategy and the appointment of members to the Joint Strategic Board, I am aware that work has commenced on a number of fronts.

“I look forward to the launch of the Joint Strategic Board as bold leadership is what we are all anticipating. But it’s the responsibility of all of us to roll up our sleeves and get busy, and waiting for September is not on my to-do list.

"Taking good policy and making social change with it continues to challenge the best minds inside and outwith the government and the VAW sector, and strategies are only as good as the change they deliver. 

“Scottish Women’s Aid intends to be a critical ally in the development of this work and fully expects our partners across the government, public sector and VAW sector to use Equally Safe to deliver social change and improved outcomes for women and children sooner rather than later.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We expect to announce the membership of the Joint Strategic Board in the next few weeks and for the Board to hold its first meeting in September.  

“In the meantime, work is well underway to implement a number of the commitments in Equally Safe, including the consultation on whether a new offence of domestic abuse is required to better reflect the true nature of abuse, including patterns of controlling and coercive behaviour.

“The consultation closed on 19 June 2015 and we are currently considering the responses. We will also begin work to create a new specific offence of committing ‘revenge porn’ – the malicious distribution of intimate images of former partners.”