MSPs pass law to review potential domestic abuse deaths

MSPs have voted to pass a Bill which would see reviews for deaths linked to domestic abuse.

The Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill comes in two parts, one of which modernises parts of the justice system, including allowing court appearances remotely as well as the use of images in place of physical evidence in courts.

But the most consequential part of the Bill will see some deaths of people who have previously interacted with domestic abuse services be reviewed.

The Justice Secretary said one death linked to domestic violence was one too many (Jane Barlow/PA). PA Media

Such reviews will not be done to ascertain blame, but to see if lessons could have been learned to prevent the death.

The Bill was passed unanimously with the backing of 115 MSPs.

Speaking in the debate before the vote in Holyrood, Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Any death in connection with domestic abuse is one too many.

“While we know there is more that can be done and that needs to be done, the establishment of a domestic homicide and suicide review model, backed by national standards, will help ensure that Scotland implements best practice in establishing the review system with the aim of learning lessons, improving services and better protecting victims.”

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr – whose party supported the Bill – raised the possibility that already stretched police budgets may struggle in the wake of the Bill’s passage.

While Labour justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeil described the reviews as “excellent”, adding: “If we are to prevent and stop the alarming trends of violence against women and girls, then we must do everything we can to understand why it happened in the first place