Domestic abusers on bail to be GPS-tracked from next year, Swinney announces

John Swinney has announced that people accused of domestic abuse will be GPS-tracked by next year in a debate about violence against women and girls.

The First Minister previously announced that the Scottish Government would seek to make progress on a previously scrapped misogyny Bill and to launch a multi-year, public health campaign to challenge misogynistic attitudes in boys and young men.

Swinney said the scale of the issue had been “laid bare” following the murders of two women by their former partners within days in July.

Vikki Soloman, 44, was killed by her ex-partner in Edinburgh, while 35-year-old Stacy Hunter was murdered in Renfrewshire by her estranged husband.

Stacy Hunter was murdered by her estranged husband in July Police Scotland

Sean Hunter, the brother of Stacy, was among those who attended a summit with John Swinney on Tuesday to discuss action to end violence against women.

Alongside his mother Ann Grant, the pair had previously called for GPS-tracking to be rolled out in Scotland and believe Stacy’s life could have been saved had her estranged husband been tagged.

“There’s so many people that could benefit from this, but most importantly is there are people out there that we know of that are being tormented in drastic situations right now,” he told STV News.

“If these things are rolled out, it seems like they might be helped and actually listened to.”

Following the meeting, the First Minister announced in Parliament that people accused of domestic abuse would be GPS-tracked – a key feature of “Stacy’s law”.

He said the pilot would begin next year and would be led by Sheriff Principal Gillian Wade KC in the Tayside, Central and Fife sheriffdom.

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‘Stacy might still be alive today if her estranged husband was tagged’

The family of Stacy Hunter told STV News they believe GPS tracking could have stopped Jim Mair killing his wife

During his speech to Parliament, Swinney also promised to invest in programmes to help young people challenge harmful stereotypes about women and girls, including a “multi-year, public health campaign aimed at boys and men to challenge misogyny and harmful behaviours”.

He also said the £2m Fund To Leave was being made permanent, providing “practical and financial support to women and children leaving abusive partners”.

“Before recess in October, we will lay regulations to enable the piloting of GPS monitoring for individuals on bail, including those suspected of domestic abuse,” he announced.

He told MSPs that “increased priority and leadership” had to be given to tackle the “epidemic of violence against women and girls in Scotland”.

“I want to make clear in this debate today my commitment and the urgency I feel to act on this issue.

“I do this both as the First Minister and also as a man, because it is men who commit this violence, it is men whose behaviour needs to change.”

Swinney added: “In online spaces and on social media, views that are unacceptable, even abhorrent in the mainstream and in our communities, are given a platform and an audience.”

He said an “utter absence of regulation” contributed to these views being “amplified”, claiming that “certain arenas, such as the manosphere and accessible pornography, have warped views and attitudes”, with this leading to “violent and exploitative behaviours with very real and very dangerous consequences for women and for girls”.

The First Minister said his Government was “committed to addressing the root causes, the cultural causes of gender based violence”.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay, who organised the summit, thanked the First Minister for attending.

But he criticised the government for having “weakened” bail laws, against the advice of organisations such as Scottish Women’s Aid.

“The government weakened bail laws in 2023, by removing a specific presumption against bail for domestic and sexual violence.

“They did so despite Victim Support Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid, and others warning that doing so presents a serious risk to the safety of female victims”

Referring to cases such as that of Stacy Hunter, he said that “dangerous men” were “freed to kill”.

Findlay said while there could be “flagrant” breaches of bail laws he added that “often nothing happens”

“Let’s fix bail laws, let’s enforce them,” he urged.

The Tory added: “Let’s address the behaviour of young men. If we can’t drain the social media swamp then let’s protect children from it, and yes let’s warn children about the toxic attitudes of dangerous online clowns like the Tate brothers.

“But, especially, let’s fix Scotland’s criminal justice system. Bold, effective and immediate actions are needed now.

“The tragic headlines might never stop but they can be reduced.”