Scottish MSP warns of systemic failures in domestic abuse protection

In the Scottish Parliament, MSP Patricia Gibson warned that domestic abuse victims are “paying with their lives” due to systemic failures in protection. Gibson noted that women are frequently killed by men who had previously been reported to authorities for abuse.

She highlighted several critical issues, including insufficient risk assessments for offenders on bail and the lack of consequences when bail conditions are breached. Gibson also pointed to low conviction rates for crimes such as rape, coercive control, and domestic abuse, noting that many women are too intimidated to pursue the court process. Furthermore, she emphasized that judicial delays in trials can re-traumatize victims, leaving them in a state of psychological and emotional limbo.