Domestic abuse cases double weeks before Clydebank women's aid closure

Glasgow Times

3 days ago

Dawn Brennan, founder of Women Supporting Women, says "something needs to change" after the latest government figures revealed a 116% increase in domestic abuse cases, weeks before the town's Women's Aid centre is to close.
Dawn said: "The campaign is aimed at confronting the attitude within the council towards violence against women and what appears to be a complete lack of understanding, because the statistics are horrific.
"When we see statistics like these go up, the violence increases, and women are increasingly affected by poverty in West Dunbartonshire.
"There doesn't seem to be an understanding of the seriousness of this situation now."
West Dunbartonshire Council, however, says they are committed to tackling domestic abuse within the local authority area.
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Dawn Brennan and mum Anne Buchanan at Clydebank Women's Aid. (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) Clydebank Women's Aid (CWA) announced its closure after more than 40 years at the beginning of June, stating "with the heaviest of hearts," they will shut their doors on July 17.
According to the Scottish Government statistics, crimes committed under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 have more than doubled between 2022/23 and 2024/25.
West Dunbartonshire Council say they have not reduced the funding to Clydebank Women's Aid after a commitment of £125,000 annually was agreed in 2022.
The council confirmed that, following CWA's closure, funding will be ringfenced to women's services in the area.
However, Dawn claims the council isn't doing enough in the face of the rising domestic abuse cases.
She added: "I think it's a disgrace that councils that are charged at the very least with the protection of communities are behaving in this way. Something has to change.
"Their behaviour and the lack of accountability have now motivated groups of women in this community to be really angry.
"This is going to get worse in this community because when Women's Aid goes, not only do women not have access to support to recover from violence against women. It emboldens perpetrators."
A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council said they are committed to providing funding to tackle domestic abuse cases in the authority.
A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesperson said: 'We are committed to tackling domestic abuse, and alongside our own work on this issue, have supported Clydebank Women's Aid (CWA) for many years, including providing £125,000 annual funding and covering rental charges.
'While the charity's decision to close is disappointing, supporting those impacted by domestic abuse remains our priority.
"All previously committed funding will continue for the purpose it was intended, and work with the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) partnership continues to ensure comprehensive support and care remain available across West Dunbartonshire.
"This multi-agency partnership continues to focus on both prevention and access to services, with strengthened risk management arrangements in place to ensure the right support for those experiencing violence and harm.'