Equally Safe Joint Strategic Board minutes: December 2024

 

 

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

Kaukab Stewart MSP, Minister for Equalities, Scottish Government 

Councillor Maureen Chalmers, Community Safety and Wellbeing Spokesperson, COSLA

Karen Allan, Housing and Homelessness, ALACHO

Olivia Brown MSYP, Scottish Youth Parliament

Amanda Coulthard, Local Authority Leadership, SOLACE

Lucy Denvir, Public Health, NHS Fife

Graham Grant, Police Scotland

Sophie Gwyther, Local Authority Leadership, VAWP Network

Catriona Kirkpatrick, Third Sector Specialist, Engender

Joanna MacDonald, Health, Scottish Government

Emma Forbes, COPFS

Kelly McIntosh, Education, ADES

Anna Mitchell, Systems Change, Safe and Together

Marsha Scott, Third Sector Specialist, Scottish Women’s Aid

Linda Thompson, Third Sector Specialist, Women’s Support Project

Safa Yousaf, AMINA (Attending on behalf of Mariam Ahmed)

 

Apologies

Rachel Adamson, Third Sector Specialist, Zero Tolerance

Mariam Ahmed, Third Sector Specialist, AMINA

Sandy Brindley, Third Sector Specialist, Rape Crisis Scotland

Eddie Docherty, Health, NHS Lanarkshire

Items and actions

Item 1 – Welcome and Apologies

Councillor Chalmers welcomed members to the meeting. Meeting attendance and apologies were noted.

Item 2 – Minutes of September Meeting and Actions Arising

The Minister asked members for any final comments on the September meeting minutes and one further amendment was raised. All actions from the September meeting were noted as having been progressed or completed. Action 7 from the May JSB meeting, to explore the intersectionality of poverty, is planned for discussion at a meeting next year.

ACTION 1: SG officials to amend the September minutes in line with one final comment relating to removing “primary” from a reference to prevention, and upload to the SG webpages.

Item 3 – Scottish Government Update

Nel Whiting provided an update on the Equally Safe Ministerial Group which last met on 14 November 2024. Discussions at the ESMG focussed on the Equally Safe delivery plan and aligning the delivery plan with ministerial portfolios to advance actions in their respective areas. It was requested that the meeting minutes are published or shared with the JSB

Nel Whiting provided an update on efforts to address Violence Against Minority Ethnic Women and Girls, noting the launch of the refreshed Forced Marriage Statutory Guidance in November and ongoing work with the Addressing Violence Against Minority Ethnic Women and Girls Network. Concerns were raised around existing data gaps on BME women and children’s experiences of court processes post separation.

Nel Whiting noted the launch of the Sextortion Campaign on November 18, developed in collaboration with Police Scotland and ‘Fearless’, Crime Stopper’s youth service. Members raised the possibility of the inclusion of a question focussed on Sextortion in the upcoming Crime and Justice survey.

Katy Betchley provided an update following the Sustainable Funding Project Board meeting in November. An assessment of the recommendations from the Independent Review of Funding were shared with the Project Board which highlighted where recommendations are being progressed through the Equally Safe Delivery Plan as well as the interdependency of a number of the recommendations. Despite the current financial context, SG and COSLA are committed to maintaining momentum where we can. Next steps for the Board include considering a revised remit to enable a pragmatic approach. This will be done in consultation with members.

Carole Robinson updated on the development of Scotland’s Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review model. The Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill, introduced in September 2023, aims to establish a legislative framework for the model. The Bill is at Stage 1, with a Call for Views open until 10 January 2025.  Concerns were raised around capacity to manage the review, the definition of Domestic Abuse used, and the need to ensure the model does not duplicate existing reviews.

ACTION 2: SG officials to share the Equally Safe Ministerial Group Terms of Reference with the JSB.

ACTION 3: Minister and SG officials to consider whether the Equally Safe Ministerial Group minutes should be published.

ACTION 4: SG officials to follow up with Marsha Scott on existing data gaps on BME women and children’s experiences.

ACTION 5: SG officials to consult with analysts on the possibility of including a question about sextortion in the upcoming Crime and Justice Survey.

Item 4 - Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Emily Mclean (Scottish Government) updated on the collaborative work between Police Scotland and SG to challenge men’s demand and support women involved in CSE. This included Operation Begonia, which aims to establish a trauma-informed approach for women and a justice-focused approach for perpetrators. Lessons learned will inform future legislation and help support the development the strategic approach to challenging and deterring men’s demand for prostitution.

Item 5 – Presentation from Scottish Youth Parliament

Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) delivered a presentation on the work of the Scottish Youth Parliament around ending Gender-Based Violence. They highlighted their activity related to this including their Cabinet and SG Executive Team ‘takeovers’ and the SYP82 Campaign training which was held as a debate in Parliament, supported by the Scottish Government’s VAWG Unit.

Board members reacted positively to the presentation with a number of members expressing their intention to further engage with SYP.

ACTION 6: COSLA Policy Manager will follow up with SYP on the points raised during the presentation.

Item 6 – Update from the Primary Prevention working group

Marsha Scott (SWA) shared that the Primary Prevention Group has met and made progress on the Primary Prevention deliverable. This includes collaboration to develop the foundational elements, including defining the principles of Primary Prevention, framing the evidence base, and linking it to the underlying causes. This work will focus on developing the definition, theory of change, and key principles over the next six months. Currently, the work is at a preliminary stage, and the group plans to bring the principles for further discussion at the next meeting of the JSB.

ACTION 7: Primary prevention working group to provide an update on the primary prevention principles for feedback at a future JSB meeting.

Item 7 – 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence reflection

Councillor Chalmers recognised the significant investment from all stakeholders and highlighted the success of the 16 Days National Event, which was jointly organised by the Scottish Government (SG), COSLA, the Improvement Service and Public Health Scotland. The event brought together key stakeholders from Public Protection and served as an important first step in advancing the Equally Safe delivery plan’s Public Protection deliverable.

The Minister reflected on her participation during 16 Days, which started with a visit to Monklands Women’s Aid to open the campaign, and that various Ministerial colleagues had taken a role in this year’s activities

Item 8 – Summary of Actions

Officials provided a summary of the meetings actions.

Item 9– AOB and Close

Members raised concern about the communication around the extension to Delivering Equally Safe funding for 2025/26 and requested the opportunity to explore the process for future grant funding at a future meeting of the JSB.

The Minister highlighted the Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s call for evidence on economic abuse and the financial challenges faced by survivors leaving an abusive partner. She emphasised that JSB members may have valuable insights to contribute.

ACTION 8: SG officials to include agenda item on funding at next meeting of JSB.

Actions

• SG officials to amend the September minutes in line with one final comment relating to removing “primary” from a reference to prevention, and upload to the SG webpages

• SG officials to share the Equally Safe Ministerial Group Terms of Reference with the JSB

• Minister and SG officials to consider whether the Equally Safe Ministerial Group minutes should be published

• SG officials to follow up with Marsha Scott on existing data gaps on BME women and children’s experiences

• SG officials to consult with analysts on the possibility of including a question about sextortion in the upcoming Crime and Justice Survey

• COSLA Policy Manager will follow up with SYP on the points raised during the presentation

• primary prevention working group to provide an update on the primary prevention principles for feedback At a future JSB meeting

• SG officials to include agenda item on funding at next meeting of JSB