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PE1887: Create an Unborn Victims of Violence Act

Petition summary

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to create an Unborn Victims of Violence Act, creating a specific offence that enables courts to hand down longer sentences for perpetrators of domestic violence which causes miscarriage.

Petitioner: Nicola Murray

Status: Under consideration

Date published: 22 July 2021

Click here for the full petition

SPICe briefing (146KB, pdf) (146KB, pdf) posted 01 March 2022

Letter from CPPPC Convener to Senior Policy Officer Scottish Sentencing Council, 11 January 2023 (182KB, pdf) (182KB, pdf) posted 21 April 2023

Letter from CPPPC Convener to Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans, 11 January 2023 (171KB, pdf) (172KB, pdf) posted 11 January 2023

Committee meetings

3 November 2021: The Committee agreed to write to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Law Commission, the Scottish Sentencing Council, Scottish Women’s Aid and Victim Support Scotland.

Official Report of Meeting 3 November 2021

2 February 2022: The Committee agreed to invite the petitioner and relevant stakeholders to give evidence on the issues raised in the petition. The Committee also agreed to write to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Scottish Sentencing Council.

Official Report of Meeting 2 February 2022

29 June 2022: The Committee took evidence from the petitioner, Nicola Murray, and from Julie Ruzgar. It agreed to consider the evidence heard at a future meeting.

Official Report of Meeting 29 June 2022

9 November 2022: The Committee took evidence from Steven Tidy, Victim Support Scotland, Dr Mary Neal, University of Strathclyde, and Dr Marsha Scott, Scottish Women's Aid. The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard at a future meeting.

Official Report of Meeting 9 November 2022

23 November 2022: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government and the Scottish Sentencing Council.

Official Report of Meeting 23 November 2022

03 May 2023: The Committee agreed to seek a Chamber debate on the issues raised in the petition.

Official Report of Meeting 03 May 2023