More than 19,500 disclosures given to people at risk of domestic abuse
More than 19,500 disclosures have been given to tell people their partner has an abusive past, since Police Scotland launched a scheme ten years ago to help tackle domestic abuse.
The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) was launched on 1 October 2015 with the aim of enabling anyone with concerns about the history of their partner, or the partner of someone they know, to apply for a disclosure.
Since its introduction 35,847 applications have been submitted to the scheme and 19,867 disclosures (55%) have been given.
Detective Superintendent Adam Brown explains: “DSDAS is an important preventative tool in tackling domestic abuse.
“Before the DSDAS scheme, there was no formal way of an individual finding out if their partner had a previous history of abusive behaviour. And similarly, there was no mechanism for police to proactively tell individuals if their partner posed a risk to them.
“The introduction of DSDAS has made significant changes and improvements to the violence against women landscape. It gives people the right to ask and police the right to tell individuals at risk of domestic abuse about the history of their partner. They can then make an informed decision about their relationship.
“Since its introduction we have seen demand to use the scheme steadily grow with around 600 applications currently being submitted every month, and that figure is growing.”
The scheme operates two pathways. Right to Ask and Power to Tell.
Under the Right to Ask, anyone who has a concern, be it the individual in the relationship, their family, friends, colleagues or neighbours can submit an application.
Under Power to Tell, professionals including the police and partner support agencies, such as social workers or medical staff, can apply for a disclosure to be made where they have reason to believe a person could be at risk of domestic abuse.
After checks are made into the background of an individual, if a disclosure is deemed lawful, proportionate and necessary to keep an individual safe, a disclosure will be made to the person at risk.
Detective Superintendent Brown added: “Police Scotland recorded over 63,500 incidents of domestic abuse in 2023-24.
“Domestic abuse is not just physical it can include coercive control, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse plus economic abuse. The effects of domestic abuse can be traumatic and long lasting for victims, and also for children.
“Receiving a disclosure can help people make a decision about their relationship and help prevent them from enduring many months or years of abuse.
“The DSDAS application form can be accessed on our website and I would urge anyone with concerns, either for themselves or someone they know, to submit a DSDAS application.”
Linda Rodgers, CEO of Edinburgh Womens Aid was present at the launch of the DSDAS scheme in 2015. Speaking about the scheme ten years on she said: “DSDAS provides an early intervention that can help people avoid the long-term trauma of domestic abuse.
“We know that receiving a disclosure can be a shock to some. However, when those receiving a disclosure realise that the concerning behaviour has been done previously to others, it can be the catalyst for them to seek support to leave as they realise it’s not their fault. We have seen an increase in the numbers of women using our services since the scheme began.
”I would encourage anyone with concerns about their partner, or the partner of someone they know to use DSDAS. We can support them in this process if they are not able to do this at home.
“I would also recommend contacting any of the many partner organisations, such as ourselves, who can provide practical and emotional support.”
Anyone with concerns about their partner, or the partner of someone they know can submit a DSDAS application via the Police Scotland website, by calling 101 or visiting a police station.
For more information about DSDAS see www.scotland.police.uk/dsdas
