A NEW policy has been introduced to strengthen West Dunbartonshire Council’s approach to preventing and addressing domestic abuse.

It gives the council and all social landlords powers to remove individuals from their properties to protect victims and other residents.

The policy incorporates the existing No Home for Domestic Abuse approach, originally put in place in 2018.

When No Home for Domestic Abuse was introduced in West Dunbartonshire, the council became the first social landlord in Scotland to introduce a zero-tolerance approach to domestic abuse.

It introduced measures to ensure victims would have immediate access to help, specialist legal assistance, and support following incidents.

Previously, the council had to use a combination of anti-social behaviour powers and housing and matrimonial homes legislation to remove perpetrators.