Coronavirus restrictions are difficult for everyone. For those living with an abusive partner or family member, it is dangerous, traumatic and relentless.
Police Scotland’s Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) aims to prevent domestic abuse by giving people the right to ask about the background of their partner. It also allows concerned members of the public, such as relatives and friends, the right to ask about someone’s partner if they are concerned that the person has been abusive in the past.
As at the 1st of October 2020, there have been more than 8,500 requests received since the Scheme launched in 2015. Of the 8,533 requests received, 4536 people (53%) were told that their current partner has a violent or abusive past. During the first Lockdown, Police Scotland saw a 34 per cent increase in DSDAS applications and a steady rise in the number of incidents being reported, after an initial decrease.
You can submit a Right to Ask application if you are concerned about yourself or someone else. Please visit www.scotland.police.uk
Click on the link to open a Right to Ask application: http://lothianloop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/70332_Right_To_Ask_Domestic_for_Media.docx