Police are unwilling to share information about perpetrators of domestic abuse, due to fears over data protection
New data protection laws are putting women and children at risk, charities have said.
Groups including Scottish Women’s Aid have said police are unwilling to share information about those who have committed domestic abuse, due to concerns over the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Domestic abuse charities, police, the NHS and social services meet at Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), where the different ages come together to discuss potential victims of abuse and how to help them.
However charities have reported that since GDPR came into force, officers have shown reluctance to share vital information.
Scottish Women’s Aid chief executive Marsha Scott said: “Women’s Aid groups have said the sharing of critical information to them by police varies from area to area because of interpretations by police on GDPR laws. There’s a reluctance for some officers at MARACs to share information they did previously. There’s an element of inconsistency that is causing us concern.
“MARACs have ultimately been set up to protect vulnerable women and children and we shouldn’t have situations where information is not being shared in one area but is in another.”
A spokesperson for support organisation Assist said: “The changes have reduced service users’ confidence in the partnership approach, which it is believed will have an impact on prevention,” said a company spokesperson. This reduction in Glasgow’s coordinated response increases the risk to some victims.”
Assistant Chief Constable Gillian MacDonald said: “Police Scotland divisional concern hubs assess and share relevant and proportionate information with partners to enable appropriate interventions and support in compliance with statutory requirements, national guidance and GDPR.
“We are currently developing an approach specific to services provided by our third sector partners, including on domestic abuse, that maximises access to support, advocacy and interventions while remaining compliant with the legislation and GDPR.”
