We asked you about conversion practices – this is what you told us Easy Read Version

Civil protection orders

A civil protection order can:

• protect a victim from the harmful behaviour of someone who is trying to do a conversion practice

• protect people from the harmful actions of a person who has already carried out conversion practices before

Some respondents were worried that some people might:

• make unfair complaints

• get civil orders against people of faith just because they do not agree with their religious beliefs

Some respondents were also worried that the amount of proof needed to get a civil order is lower than the proof needed for the criminal offences.

Some respondents said that civil protection orders are the only proposal that could stop harm before it happens.

They say that it is better to stop harm from happening than to punish someone after the harm has already happened.

The Scottish Government says:

• there are rules about when a civil order could be made
• the court would have to decide that a protection order is needed

The Scottish Government understands that people are not sure about how this part of the law would work.

They will keep thinking about how they can make this clearer for people.