School of Social and Political Science

ASSIST@20 Podcast

This is a podcast from DACE - the domestic abuse court experience research project, in partnership with ASSIST - the specialist court advocacy organisation, to mark ASSIST's 20th anniversary and their contribution to improving the lives of victims of domestic abuse. In the research, advocacy and support were reported as the most significant mechanisms for minimising trauma and enhancing feelings of safety for victims and witnesses - adults and children - in domestic abuse court cases. The University of Edinburgh funded this podcast to highlight the life-changing nature of this work and the need for national roll out of specialist services.

ASSIST@20

Every 8 minutes Police Scotland deal with a report of domestic abuse. And every year in this country, an average of 9 people are killed in domestic homicides.

Twenty years ago, a dedicated Domestic Abuse Court was set up in Glasgow to better protect victims and provide a more robust approach to dealing with perpetrators. But it couldn’t get off the ground without a court advocacy service to hold the hand of people going through this often confusing and daunting court process.

ASSIST is the largest service of its kind in Scotland covering an area from Oban to Stranraer. The advocacy workers do everything from unpicking legal language to seeking victims’ views on court imposed protective measures - all designed to keep victims safe at the same time as empowering them to speak out.

But it hasn’t been easy and there’s a way still to go.

Now, on its 20th anniversary, we’ve gathered some of the key figures involved in the formation of ASSIST to reflect on the milestones it’s navigated, the difference it has made to the lives of victims - women, children and men - and how the wider landscape has changed for better or for worse.

The Panel:
  • MHAIRI MCGOWAN - managed Assist until 2019 and is now an independent “Violence Against Women and Girls” consultant.
  • FIONA MCMULLEN - Operations Manager at ASSIST and was the first advocacy worker.
  • EMMA FORBES - Lead National Prosecutor for Domestic Abuse and was the first prosecutor in the domestic abuse court, working closely with ASSIST.
  • FIL CAPALDI was the Detective Superintendent at Police Scotland responsible for rape, serious sexual crime, trafficking and prostitution. Now retired. In 2004 he was the DS looking after Domestic Abuse.

Presenter: FIONA WALKER – Investigative Journalist and former BBC crime reporter.
Producer: Leeanne Coyle

Supported by Claire Houghton and funded by the University of Edinburgh.