Glasgow woman's fight for new domestic abuse register

Campaigners want ministers to back the creation of a new register – similar to that used for sex offenders - which will record the names of those convicted of crimes against their partners.

The group of seven women will meet Justice Minister Angela Constance and West of Scotland MSP Pam Gosal in parliament on Wednesday in a bid to make it harder for abusers to be shielded from their crimes.

Lauren Hardie, has bravely waived her right to anonymity to the Glasgow Times and says urgent improvements must be made by policy-makers to save the lives of those suffering at the hands of abusers.  

The 25-year -old nurse told how she was left with bite marks, bruising on her arms, shoulder and eye after being the victim of an assault in 2020. Frustrated by court delays, Lauren posted a video online of the attack she had secretly recorded on her phone.

Lauren suffered a host of injuries (Image: Newsquest)

Lauren’s ex-partner was later admonished in court for his crime, meaning he was let off with a verbal warning not to offend again.

Lauren, from Glasgow, said: “The system must change, in particular the way those who have suffered a spectrum of abuse are treated by police and during the court process.

“I felt so badly let down that there was no end punishment to fit the crime. He basically got off with a slap on the wrist while I was left to pick up the pieces of my life without any support.

“There are so many failings in the justice system and it’s important that our voices are heard. The introduction of a domestic abuse register will prevent more people suffering the pain and trauma we have endured. We urgently need these safeguards to be introduced to help to save lives, while also holding those responsible accountable for their actions."

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She continued: “We are calling on politicians and lawmakers to drive this forward. It means people will be able to check if a prospective partner has a history of domestic abuse. These steps are vital and long overdue.”

The campaign is going to Holyrood. (Image: Newsquest)

Lauren, who appeared in BBC Scotland Disclosure documentary Surviving Domestic Abuse, told how she and her ex partner were together for six months before the flashpoint in 2020 when he attacked her after an evening out together.

Out of sight of her partner, Lauren put her phone on record and hid it under the bed covers.

She said: “I thought he was going to end my life that night. I just saw a knife. He had hands on me, holding me down and I was getting hurt while he was getting angrier.”

Her attacker was initially charged with five offences and admitted three when he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court. The prosecution service accepted his guilty pleas and the other two charges were dropped.

At sentencing, the sheriff admonished him, which is recorded as a criminal conviction but carries no other penalty.

Data shows that almost 90% of people will never report domestic abuse to the police but those who do, find themselves in a system under strain, beset by backlogs and stretched resources.

Lauren has also been critical of the justice process leading up to the conviction. After giving her statement to police, it took a year and two months for a court date to be set.

She  said. “Nobody reached out to me. No phone call, no text, no letter. I didn’t know what was going on. Even after the case called it took several days of me chasing officers at the court before I knew the outcome.

“We need proper safeguards in place to protect people and we hope that ministers are ready to listen."