Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021

3What constitutes abusive behaviour

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

(1)Subsections (2) to (4) elaborate on when behaviour by person A is abusive of person B.

(2)Behaviour which is abusive of person B includes (in particular)—

(a)behaviour directed at person B that is violent, threatening or intimidating, 

(b)behaviour directed at person B, at a child of person B or at another person that either—

(i)has as its purpose (or among its purposes) one or more of the relevant effects set out in subsection (3), or

(ii)would be considered by a reasonable person to be likely to have one or more of the relevant effects set out in subsection (3).

(3)The relevant effects are of—

(a)making person B dependent on, or subordinate to, person A,

(b)isolating person B from friends, relatives or other sources of support,

(c)controlling, regulating or monitoring person B's day-to-day activities,

(d)depriving person B of, or restricting person B's, freedom of action,

(e)frightening, humiliating, degrading or punishing person B.

(4)In subsection (2)(a), the reference to violent behaviour includes sexual violence as well as physical violence.