Easy read consultation 4 on ways to protect women and girls – non harassment orders
This is an easy read version of our consultation about crimes that can happen to women and girls. We want to know what people think about the law in Scotland relating to about non harassment orders.
Open
60 days to respond
What the law says at the moment
In Scotland crimes are dealt with by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
This is also called COPFS for short.
When a crime has happened COPFS can ask the court to make a non harassment order.
Courts can only make a non harassment order when someone has been found guilty of a crime.
But sometimes a person will say they did the crime and it will not go to court.
This can mean they get a warning or a fine.
A fine is when someone has to pay money because they broke a rule or a law.
When warnings or fines are given by COPFS it is called an alternative to prosecution.
When an alternative to prosecution happens, the court cannot make a non harassment order – because it has not gone to court.
This means that if COPFS thinks a victim needs protecting with a non harassment order it must go to court.
But sometimes an alternative to prosecution would be best.
