Nearly 100 West Lothian women told of partner's abusive past
dailyrecord.co.ukDomestic abuse will not be tolerated and victims are not alone – help is out there.That was the message from police officers who are spearheading a scheme that will inform people who are embarking on a new relationship if their partner has previous convictions for domestic abuse.Nearly 100 women have been protected from potential violence or mental abuse in West Lothian over the last year thanks to the Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme.In 2021, 128 applications to the scheme were made, leading to 96 disclosures, where a partner’s history of abuse was revealed.Barry McDaid is Detective Inspector for Domestic Abuse and Divisional Rape Investigation Unit, covering West Lothian.He welcomed the figures as a positive step forward in protecting families from abuse.He said: “Nearly 100 women have been given the information so they can make an informed decision about what they want to do with their relationship and keep themselves safe and their families safe.“If someone has got a suspicion about their partner’s past, or perhaps it’s a friend or a loved one you’re concerned about and their new partner, you can apply on their behalf.“It’s only ever going to be the potential victim that’s going to be informed, but it’s definitely a way that you can keep them safe.”DI McDaid says abuse can often be more subtle than physical violence and is calling on everyone to look out for the signs.He said: “It could be coercive and controlling behaviour, it could be a range of offences – stalking or sexual offences or any kind of abuse in a domestic relationship.“There’s lots of research that shows the effects of domestic abuse on children growing up in a house where that’s happening has a long-term serious impact, so getting this kind of
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk
