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  4. Domestic Abuse Committee

Domestic Abuse Committee

Remit and terms of reference

The Domestic Abuse Working Group Committee will support the Council in its preparation of a sentencing guideline or guidelines on domestic abuse offences. 

The Committee will oversee all aspects of the development of the guideline until submission to the High Court and will give consideration thereafter to ongoing monitoring of the guideline. In terms of the Council’s standing orders the Council will specify the expected lifetime of the committee. This may be reviewed and, if appropriate, amended by the Council during the committee’s lifetime. The Committee’s work will include, in particular: 

    • making recommendations to the Council as to the scope, content, and approach of the guideline
    • identifying knowledge and information gaps relevant to the development of the guideline, submitting any proposals for research to the Research Committee
    • reviewing draft guidelines prepared by the secretariat, providing advice and direction as required while having regard to any guideline methodology and drafting style agreed by the Council
    • supporting engagement with relevant stakeholders at all stages of the guideline development process
    • overseeing the judicial and public consultation process, including the preparation of consultation documents and impact assessments

The Committee will report regularly to the Council on the progress of guideline development, making recommendations and, where appropriate, referring significant or potentially controversial decisions to the Council.

The Hon. Lord Colbeck

Chair

Lord Colbeck will hold office until July 2025.

Lord Colbeck is a Judicial member of the Council.

Lindsey Miller

Member

Lindsey will hold office until October 2026.

Lindsey is the Prosecutor member of the Council.

Joanne McMillan

Member

Joanne will hold office until May 2028.

Joanne is the Solicitor member of the Council.

Sheriff Amel Elfallah

Advisor

Sheriff Elfallah was appointed as an advisor to the Domestic Abuse Committee in May 2024.

Sheriff Elfallah was the Council's Summary Sheriff member until her appointment as a sheriff. Sheriff Elfallah is an advisor to the Council and sits on the Domestic Abuse Committee as an advisor by invitation of the Council.

Sheriff Paul Brown

Advisor

Sheriff Brown was appointed as an advisor to the Domestic Abuse Committee in November 2021.

Sheriff Brown was the Council's Summary Sheriff member until his appointment as sheriff. Sheriff Brown sits on the Domestic Abuse Committee as an advisor by invitation of the Council.

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Scottish Sentencing Council, Parliament House, Edinburgh, EH1 1RQ

Tel: 0300 790 0006 Email: sentencingcouncil@scotcourts.gov.uk
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