Changes to domestic abuse law win support

MSPs on Holyrood's justice committee has given its support to a bill aimed at improving justice for victims of domestic abuse.

The committee published its stage one report of the Domestic Abuse Bill yesterday.

The bill was introduced by Rhoda Grant MSP in May last year, aiming to increase access to justice for victims of domestic abuse, and to enable police and prosecutors to provide a more robust response to breached civil protection orders, by dealing with breaches as a criminal offence.

In its report, the committee unanimously agreed to support the bill, but it opposed a proposal to remove means testing of anyone applying for civil legal aid to pursue a protective order in a domestic abuse case.

It also recommended including a statutory definition of "domestic abuse" in the legislation. It said the definition should be restricted to generally accepted categories of partners and not extended to cover other family relationships.

Convener Bill Aitken MSP said: "The justice committee recognises the importance of Rhoda Grant's bill and we have agreed to support the general principles of the bill at stage one."