Pam Gosal MSP has introduced a Member's Bill. The Bill includes several measures that aim to reduce incidences of domestic abuse in Scotland.
This is a Member's bill
The Bill was introduced on 7 May 2025 and is at Stage 1
This Bill is at Stage 1 of the process to decide if it should become an Act.
The Bill is split into four main parts.
Part 1 introduces notification requirements for domestic abuse offenders. This means that certain convicted offenders must provide certain information to the Police. They must also inform the Police about changes to their circumstances. For example, if they change address. This is similar to notification requirements for sex offenders and is intended to help with the monitoring of offenders.
Part 2 requires consideration of whether a person convicted of a domestic abuse offence is a suitable candidate to take part in rehabilitation programmes or services. The offender’s suitability is to be assessed at three separate points:
Part 3 places a requirement on Police Scotland, the Crown and Procurator Fiscal Service and charities to ask for information from victims of domestic abuse. This includes requests for the victim’s age, sex, disability and ethnicity. The information would be provided on a voluntary basis. The Scottish Government would also need to publish an annual report on the data gathered.
Part 4 requires the Scottish Government and education authorities to promote, facilitate and support domestic abuse education in schools.
The Member believes that action is needed to address the rising numbers of instances of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse causes long-term harm to victims, their families, and wider communities. The Bill introduces several measures aimed at preventing domestic abuse from taking place and rehabilitating the perpetrators of the abuse.
Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill as introduced (1MB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Explanatory Notes (214KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Policy Memorandum (379KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Financial Memorandum (350KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum (182KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Statements on legislative competence (110KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Explanatory Notes (295KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Policy Memorandum (436KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Financial Memorandum (394KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum (268KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
Statements on legislative competence (161KB, pdf) posted 07 May 2025
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
Sharon Dowey MSP is the additional member in charge for the Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill.
The Member who introduces the Bill is also, in the first instance, the ‘Member in charge’ of it. They may choose to name an ‘additional Member in charge’. This gives the Member in charge an assurance that any necessary procedural steps can still be taken if they are unavailable for a period or on a particular occasion.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
A research briefing will be published in due course.
The Bill was introduced on 7 May 2025
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Criminal Justice Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The Committee has agreed the order it wishes to look at the two member’s bills in and the following schedule of work for scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1. It may be subject to change depending on the availability of witnesses and other parliamentary business.
The Committee recognises that there is a good deal of interest in this Bill, with many organisations and individuals wishing to contribute to our scrutiny. The planned schedule of work seeks to balance the need to hear a range of views on the key provisions of the Bill with a desire by the Committee to ensure that the Bill could proceed through all its stages in the time remaining in this parliamentary session, should the Bill pass at Stage 1. The Committee will also draw upon the written evidence received to inform its scrutiny.
The Committee is particularly mindful of the need to hear from those with direct experience of supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, alongside representatives of the legal and justice system, to ensure that all perspectives are reflected in its scrutiny.
Panel 1 – National and local service providers, including women’s organisations specialising in domestic abuse policy, as well as groups supporting underrepresented women
Panel 2 – Legal, justice and social work sectors
Minister
Member-in-charge
The Criminal Justice Committee held a call for views to help inform its scrutiny of the Bill. The call for views closed on Monday 15 September 2025.
Read the submissions received on Citizen Space
Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting (Private)
Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting (Private)
Committees sometimes meet in private. This might be to hear confidential or particularly sensitive information, or to discuss a draft report. When a committee meets in private, its proceedings are not broadcast and there is no Official Report. However, the committee minutes will record the business taken and any decisions reached.
Letter from Pam Gosal MSP to the Convener, 9 September 2025
Letter from Pam Gosal MSP to the Convener, 3 September 2025
Correspondence from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, 29 July 2025
Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to the Convener, 23 June 2025
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The Committee published its report on 26 June 2025.
Read the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee's report at Stage 1