Chamber and committees

Will the removal of the exceptions make a lot of difference?

Sure. I understand.

There is a proportionally high number of women on remand. A previous witness said that he thought that, in some cases, sheriffs were remanding women because there was no real alternative and they did not know what to do with them. Is that the case?

What is your opinion on the high number of women who are on remand? Is that because there is no throughcare or nowhere else to send them?

Thank you.

This question is for David Fraser. When we were on our interesting visit to Glasgow, we learned that different courts are being set up. A women’s court is about to come into play. Could you expand on that? There is also a youth court and a drugs court. Are those trial courts? If the youth court and the drugs court are already running, how has it been going? What is the scene for the women’s court?

That would be excellent. Thank you.

Wendy Sinclair-Gieben, I have some questions for you. The number of women on remand is shockingly high—I do not need to tell you that—and the disruption to families that follows is evident. Why do you think that so many women are remanded for low-level offences? Why are they there in the first place? I do not know whether you heard the previous session, but we spoke to a solicitor who had dealt with a case where the person was directed to the 218 project in Glasgow, which is hugely successful. I put it to her that, if that happened more often, fewer women would be remanded. What is your view?

David Mackie, what is your view on the removal of section 23D? Are women’s organisations and victims right to be concerned about that? I presume that you heard the earlier session, where it was unanimously agreed that it should be removed. I still cannot get my head around that, but maybe you can give me your view.

That is fine. Thank you.

Good morning. I have three questions—one for each of you. Professor Loucks, you mentioned your organisation’s excellent and very detailed report on the cost to families of imprisonment and release. We do not have time to delve into the report, obviously, but what is its key message?

I understand what you are saying, but, if I take that back to perception and to a very simplistic level, that is not how victims of domestic abuse or women’s organisations will see it, because it still gives the impression that it will be easier for alleged perpetrators to get out on bail.