Councillors in Dundee are to be offered training in domestic abuse awareness to help them respond appropriately to the needs of victims.
East End councillor Lesley Brennan, who works as a health economist, has been instrumental in the proposed new training.
Councillor Brennan previously co-directed a study commissioned by Scottish Women’s Aid to investigate the key factors which determine whether tenancies will be sustained following domestic abuse.
She said: “I was truly shocked by the responses many of the women had experienced from ‘frontline’ services such as housing, health, teaching, social work and the emergency services, as well as those in the voluntary sector.”
The Scottish Executive launched the Domestic Abuse: A National Training Strategy in 2004 to embed domestic abuse awareness training so everyone who in the course of their work comes into contact with people who have experienced abuse knows how to advise and support them.
Now Councillor Brennan wants the training to be extended to councillors.
She said: “Based on what I have witnessed, there is a need for this training.
“Last month I contacted the head of democratic and legal services to request that domestic abuse awareness training be offered to councillors.
“Today I am delighted to report that arrangements are being made to offer domestic abuse awareness training to all councillors.”
While the training is still in the planning stage, Councillor Brennan said she imagines it will involve an understanding of what domestic abuse is and the impact it has on the families involved.
She said it was also important to remember that men, and not just women, can be victims.
“In the work that we do as councillors we come across people who have experienced it and we need to be aware that when people come to us we respond properly,” she said.
“I hope the session is well attended and that following the training councillors who come into contact with women, men, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse, and the perpetrators of the abuse, have the knowledge, understanding and skills required to respond appropriately.”