The public petitions system has now closed ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on 7 May 2026. It is not possible to submit a new petition to the Scottish Parliament or sign a petition until after the election.
The petitions system will reopen at the start of the new parliamentary session.
For more information about the petitions process, please contact the committee team at petitions.committee@parliament.scot.
For more information about the election campaign period and the dissolution of the current parliament, please visit the Scottish Parliament’s Election 2026 webpage: https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/election-2026
Closed petition PE2163: Develop guidance on child contact domestic abuse
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to work with partners to develop guidance on the interaction between child contact dispute processes and the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.
Background information
I experienced domestic abuse through child contact processes from an ex-partner but Police Scotland did not regard any of it as abuse.
Non-resident parents post-separation routinely need to fight in the courts to see their children. Abusive and controlling parents have no desire to use mediation to reach an agreement and will use malicious allegations and the court process to frustrate the non-resident parent. These parents often suffer significant mental health and financial problems as a result.
This petition was considered by the Scottish Parliament
76 signatures