Domestic abuse court a success

The court started at Dunfermline Sheriff Court last year and has since dealt with 300 cases.

A specialist domestic abuse court which was set up in Fife is to become permanent after a successful pilot run.

The court started at Dunfermline Sheriff Court in November 2010 and since then has dealt with 300 cases of domestic abuse.

The aim of the court was to deal with these cases effectively and bring them to trial quickly. All the cases over the last year have gone to trial within eight to 10 weeks of the accused first appearing in court.

It is the second court of its type in Scotland – a domestic abuse court has been running in Glasgow since 2004.

District Procurator Fiscal for Dunfermline, Fiona Cameron, said: “We recognise the benefits of a specialist approach to the prosecution of domestic abuse cases and have been piloting a domestic abuse court in Dunfermline over the last year.

“I am confident that this new court will prove to be an excellent resource, enhancing the service provided to victims through the timely, efficient and robust prosecution of these cases.

“COPFS will continue to work closely with the police, the Scottish Court Service, Fife Council Social Work Department and Fife Domestic and Sexual Abuse Partnership to robustly deal with anybody who commits this type of crime while supporting those affected by it.”