SafeLives’ interim CEO, Tracey Bleakley, discusses the Government’s early-release scheme and its implications for victim-survivors of domestic abuse.

In this new blog, SafeLives Pioneer Dipty reflects on what has changed in the five years since the Domestic Abuse Act became law, what still hasn't, and the practical changes needed to ensure every survivor can access the protection and support they deserve.

Five years after the Domestic Abuse Act became law, too many survivors are still not getting the protection and support they were promised.

Domestic abuse is Scotland’s hidden emergency. Survivors are clear; the upcoming election is a chance to change that.

SafeLives’ statement on the Courts and Tribunals Bill welcomes reforms that prioritise survivor safety, including the removal of the presumption of parental contact and stronger protections for victims. However, we raise concerns about proposals for judge-only trials and call for proper investment in the justice system.

Safelives welcomes the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, a landmark moment for survivors of domestic abuse and justice reform in Scotland.

Our statement on new laws tackling porn that depicts strangulation: why this change protects adult and child survivors, how normalisation harms young people, and what happens next. Includes details of our partnership with IFAS, specialist NFS training, and Take A Breath project with Changemakers.

This week’s announcements mark meaningful progress: the repeal of the presumption of parental contact in the family courts, alongside amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill that restrict parental responsibility in the most serious cases.

For years, the presumption of parental contact has put “both parents are best” ahead of children’s safety. Repealing it takes power away from domestic abuse perpetrators and puts children first.