'Refuge' plan for violent husbands

MEN who commit domestic violence should be taken out of the family home and sent for counselling at a "refuge", the new head of Scotland's biggest police force said last night.

Stephen House, who has just taken over as chief constable of Strathclyde Police, said domestic violence was the cause of other problems in society and new measures were needed to crack down on abusers.

House wants a network of men's refuges created where domestic abusers can learn to control their violent behaviour as a condition of being allowed to return home.

Women's groups last night welcomed the renewed focus on domestic violence but questioned the use of "refuges" for perpetrators.

Last week, it emerged that domestic abuse in Scotland had risen by 7% in a year, reaching 48,801 incidents.

A separate official report based on the 2006 Scottish Crime Survey, found that just one in five "victims of force" by a partner had reported it.

House, previously an assistant chief commissioner with the Metropolitan Police, said: "I have seen one or two good examples of domestic violence work and I want to try and introduce them here.

"I'm concerned that domestic violence can help spur the cycle of violence. If you're a child and you see violence being used in the home then you are more likely to think that is acceptable outside the home too.

"In about 45% of domestic violence cases there are children present, and you imagine what effect that has."

House said that he wanted "refuges for offenders" as a possible solution in cases where a wife might be unhappy about testifying and where leaving the home to seek protection might not be an option. He added: "There are reasons why victims are not coming forward, sometimes it's economic: the man might be put in prison and there is no longer a wage coming in. It may be the case that the woman still loves the man, and we get the evidence and then we find that the woman will not support the prosecution.

"We should be looking at initiatives to take the offender out of the situation so that, even if there is not a criminal prosecution, the husband can be the subject of counselling and can help confront their own behaviour. We should look at shelters for the offenders as well as the victims."

House added that he was also keen to use neighbours to help observe dangerous situations, a tactic known as "Cocoon-Watch".

It would involve, with the consent of the victim, briefing nearby neighbours about what had happened and asking them to alert the police if they saw any further cause for concern.

Lily Greenan, manager of Scottish Women's Aid, said:

"In relation to perpetrator programmes, we would like to know the specifics of how the chief constable imagines this working in practice. There have been concerns raised by the Women's Aid in England - where these programmes have been used before - and we would seek reassurances on those points from Stephen House. Any initiative that works with perpetrators has to be put the safety of women and children at its centre."

Michèle Burman, Professor of Criminology at Glasgow University, said: "Any kind of initiative which allows the woman and the children to stay in the house is something we need to support. And often it's women who want the man to be removed. However, any time away has to be more than just a little time-out in order to sober up. There would have to be other solutions."

John Lamont, Tory spokesman on community safety, said: "There should be zero tolerance for domestic violence. Perpetrators of this terrible crime should be punished to the full extent of the law, up to and including a prison sentence.

"If, upon their release back into society, their rehabilitation is better served by use of these facilities, then that is something to consider. But at no point must these 'safehouses' ever become a substitute for justice."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "It is very encouraging to hear of the focus that Chief Constable House places on the work required to tackle domestic abuse. The Scottish Government would be interested in discussing this initiative and others he has highlighted further in light of his experience and interest in this issue. I am sure we share the common objective of dealing effectively with the perpetrators and ensuring the safety of the women and children affected by domestic abuse."