NHOsNow

Campaigning to make Non-Harassment Orders a mandatory right of victims in the sentencing of sexual & domestic abuse cases in Scotland‼️ #NHOsNow

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

An update on the changes this bill will make to Non-Harassment Orders. https://t.co/VucR4I1w2N

[Scottish Parliament @ScotParl]

The result of the Stage 3 vote on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill is:

✅ Yes - 71
❌ No - 46
🟣 Abstain - 1

The bill is therefore passed.

You can find out more online at https://t.co/nmfcq1we3U

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

If the purpose of juries is to reflect society, everyone should be able to access courts comfortably and safely. Nobody should be forced into being excused from jury service simply because the building can’t facilitate them.

[BBC Scotland News @BBCScotlandNews]

Jurors, lawyers and social workers face 'resilience test' in inaccessible courts https://t.co/SvFQ1SZYEd

[Scottish Women's Aid @scotwomensaid]

📢Please share! The Fund to Leave is available until the 30th of June, or will close sooner if the funding has been spent.

Are you a woman experiencing domestic abuse and need financial support to leave your partner or stay safe? 💜

The Scottish Government’s Fund to Leave is currently open to applications. The fund offers women based in Scotland up to £1,000 for essentials to support the costs of leaving, planning to leave or staying left from an abusive relationship. These might include:

🚗Costs to flee an abusive partner or safely relocate 

🔐Safety measures to remain at home (e.g. reinforced locks, alarms, security cameras) 

🥗Immediate essentials for you or your children (e.g. food, clothing, school uniform, furniture, transport) 

⚖️Legal advice or justice-related costs 

🏠Emergency accommodation costs, including when waiting for Housing Benefit 

💳Debt pressures or being unable to access money due to economic abuse 

👶 Childcare or dependent care needed to leave safely or stabilise your situation, which can include child or pet safety.  

🫶Support for women with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) 

The fund is limited and will be distributed by fund delivery partners.

❤️‍🩹 You deserve safety, support, and a future free from harm. The fund is here to help you take the next step.

Find out more information, including how to apply and who to contact, here : https://t.co/1qyOaacTnN

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

And yet my rapist was referred to as a ‘pleasant, well-mannered, committed & respectful young man’ and told it was a ‘tragedy’ he was convicted. I read of similar remarks constantly. I hope the judiciary will learn an awful lot from the remarkable level of sensitivity shown here.

[Sam Corbishley @corbishleys]

After weeks' spent focusing on judges getting it wrong in their sentencing remarks, here is Mr Justice Bright with a moving tribute to a victim.

In fact, he refuses to use that word, or complainant or survivor, saying they're 'demeaning'.

He instead refers to her as the 'hero'.

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

A summary of why I won’t be supporting this proposal in the consulatation below👇🏻

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

This proposes COPFS be given powers to impose Non-Harassment Orders as an alternative to prosecution. It’s rather transparently presented as a measure to better protect women, when in reality it could put them at further risk in a bid to reduce court backlogs.

[ScotGov Justice @ScotGovJustice]

A new consultation is seeking views on how the justice system can further protect women and girls from violence and abuse.

Share your views now.

https://t.co/KVqhUKuDMq

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

This proposal could mean victims in cases that are diverted from court may receive automatic protection, whilst those involved in serious high court convictions are still refused NHOs in more than 50% of cases, widening the existing disparity we have campaigned to end.

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

Those girls deserved far better than this from the system that claims to protect them. Certainly after they have sacrificed themselves in court to protect the wider public. Is this really the thanks they get?

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

In these cases the question always arises - who could ever think they are SO untouchable they could film rape and get away with it? Well, turns out they are indeed untouchable. Time & time again, there is air-tight evidence and no consequence.

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

A girl who was raped by two teenage boys has told the BBC that a judge's decision to spare them jail sentences was like a "rock straight in my face".

The attorney general is to review the sentence given by Judge Nicholas Rowland, who had said on Thursday he wanted to avoid "criminalising" the "very young" boys.

Read more: https://t.co/5ghscSk0lm

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

My rapist was handed a custodial sentence, but not before he was described as a “pleasant, well-mannered, committed and respectful young man” & the court was told of the “tragedy” it was that he has been convicted. It’s time sentencing remarks reflect the gravity of the crime.

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

@ACSPARTAN1 A petition passed through Holyrood last year asking for absolute discharge to be abolished as a sentencing disposal in sex crime cases. It was closed by the petitions committee so I would expect that this can still happen.

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

Please read. A hugely important article with hugely convincing contributions from ASSIST on the dangers of NFS.

Strangulation is a weapon designed to intimidate & frighten but it can also be used to undermine consent. It’s time the law reflects that.

[marion scott @ladymcbeth2]

Landmark verdict for abuser who strangled his wife triggers new campaign by law chiefs as we reveal half of domestic abusers use strangulation and huge spike in young girls coerced into sex games that can kill. Read Mary Howden and Dr Isabelle Kerr on crisis https://t.co/Jp1fZ7Rria via @Sunday_Post

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

@SarahCactus1 Wonderful! Congratulations🕊️

[EmilyTest @Emilytest12]

At last - the first case in Scotland where an abuser is convicted of killing his wife after she takes her own life 💔

So many women are driven to the point of feeling living isn’t an option, feeling the abuse and pain will never end.

Abusers know what they are doing, they see they are killing a person yet choose to continue.

Until now they did that with no consequences but hopefully no longer!

So sorry this has happened, another beautiful life taken - thinking of Kimberley and her loved ones 💔

https://t.co/rCQLA5ZK32

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

These orders need to account for modern forms of abuse that can be perpetrated digitally irrespective of where the victim or perpetrator resides. Fleeing abuse should never become justification to refuse victims basic protections after conviction

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

I was refused a non-harassment order when my abuser was sentenced because I had relocated to another jurisdiction. Therefore it was deemed unnecessary. It is clear from the Hogg case that one party relocating does not negate the necessity of protective measures for victims

[BBC Scotland News @BBCScotlandNews]

Court restores ban on Stuart Hogg contacting his ex-wife https://t.co/B110Cc4Q9Z

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

Yet over the border in Scotland, over half of domestic abusers are not even banned from contacting or approaching their victim at sentencing…

[The Telegraph @Telegraph]

Rape and domestic abuse victims will be tracked to prevent them ever coming into contact with their attackers under Britain’s biggest-ever expansion of tagging.

Read more here ⤵️
https://t.co/2ZiuQtUEhc

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

@fionamcmullen1 Absolutely Fiona - even more reason for the guidelines to be airtight!

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

The VWJR Act will introduce a requirement for judges to always consider protecting victims with a Non-Harassment Order in the sentencing of rape. It is a shame these guidelines don’t yet account for this much needed change in legislation.

[Scottish Sentencing Council @ScotSentencing]

The Council’s sentencing guidelines on rape offences come into effect today.

The guidelines include sentencing ranges to assist judges when deciding a sentence, with all options set at long-term custodial sentences.

View the guidelines in full 👉 https://t.co/X6bbbDKrlP

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

This is why @ScotParl voted to ensure victims of rape are afforded mandatory consideration of an NHO when their perpetrator is sentenced. I hope this change will be reflected in the council’s guidelines in the near future.

[NHOsNow @NHOsNow]

If it is estimated that 90% of rapes are perpetrated by someone known to the victim and around half are partners or ex-partners. It seems crucial and necessary that steps are taken to protect victims from unwanted contact post-conviction.