Policy Responses to Gender Based Crime in Scotland

Michele Burman and Jenny Johnstone in collaboration with Janette de Haan and Jan Macleod, of the Women’s Support Project received a research grant from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) for a project entitled Responding To Gender-Based Violence In Scotland : The Scope Of The Gender Equality Duty To Drive Cultural And Practical Change ‘ The project summarised current Scottish devolved policy and legislation on violence against women in all its forms;  critically examined the arguments for and against a gender statutory aggravation as a criminal justice response to gender-based violence, and; explored the impact and future scope of the GED as a policy tool for driving change in the way criminal justice bodies and other public authorities tackle gender-based violence.  This work involved a set of interviews with criminal justice stakeholders and third sector groups working with those who have experience gender-based violence, and the publication of the report is due later this year.