Domestic abuse is persistent and controlling behaviour by a partner or ex-partner which causes emotional, physical, sexual and/or financial harm.
It often gets worse over time. In a majority of cases it is experienced by women and children and is perpetrated by men. Anyone can be affected by domestic abuse, regardless of age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or socioeconomic status. Domestic abuse is a violation of human rights and never the fault of the victim (East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid).
The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 created a statutory offence of domestic abuse against a partner or ex-partner. The offence defines abusive behaviour as that which is violent, threatening or intimidating. Behaviour whose purpose is one of the following:
- making a partner dependent or subordinate;
- isolating a partner from friends, relatives or other sources of support;
- controlling, regulating or monitoring a partner’s day-to-day activities;
- depriving a partner of, or restricting, freedom of action; or
- frightening, humiliating, degrading or punishing a partner.
For more information on the support and services available within East Dunbartonshire please click on the link.
