An MSP is calling for Women’s Aid services to be properly funded in the north of Scotland.
Yesterday, the Press and Journal reported the Moray branch of the charity could be forced to turn women away as they fight to fill a £20,000 shortfall.
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant has been campaigning for designated domestic abuse courts to be introduced in the north.
She said: “Where such courts exist in the central belt the experience of victims and professional agencies has been that the staff dealing with such matters are better prepared and trained and the atmosphere is less intimidating.
“Now we learn that the Women’s Aid Services are struggling for funding. These are key services and we have to make sure that focussed, supportive, balanced mechanisms are in place to deal with the ongoing domestic incident issues, as well as the enforcement side of dealing with offenders.”
The Labour MSP has now lodged a question with the Scottish Government to ask what support they give to Women’s Aid.
The number of domestic abuse incidents in Moray has jumped from 636 in 2012/13 to 740 in 2015/16.
Mrs Grant said: “I am concerned about the overall approach to domestic abuse and particularly the victims of domestic abuse. I accept that Police Scotland and their partner agencies are doing a lot of good work, but we need to look at the whole picture.”