DOMESTIC violence support groups in the Borders have gone to the Government for answers after a local sheriff openly criticised policies.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond's decision to admonish the accused has caused further anger.

A local man was taken into custody and faced six charges last year following incidents involving his wife at their home over a three year period.

Shortly before he was due to stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court he admitted one charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

The not guilty pleas to the other five charges were accepted by the Procurator Fiscal.

And Sheriff Drummond granted an absolute discharge on the remaining charge.

He went on to hit out at the national policies used in domestic cases which led to the accused spending four nights in custody.

But his words and his sentencing have been met with anger from groups such as Scottish Women's Aid and the Scottish Borders Rape Crisis Centre.

Jedburgh-based Women's Aid posted a stinging response on their website.

And last week a letter from Galashiels-based Scottish Borders Rape Crisis Centre was sent to both the Sheriff Principal for Lothian and Borders, Mhairi Stephen QC, and to Justice Secretary Michael Matheson.

Alana Notman, chair of SBRCC, stated: "To be effective we need to have confidence in the agencies which are directly employed within the criminal justice system.

"To do this we need to trust those agencies, including the judiciary, otherwise how can we support women to report the crimes perpetrated against them and then through what is almost certain to be a traumatic process?

"We recognise and respect the independence of the judiciary. Nonetheless we assume that there is guidance within which the law is applied which is consistent with national policy.

"Sheriff Drummond’s observations, as reported, on both the circumstances of the case and national policy is unlikely to promote confidence in women who are the victims of domestic and/or sexual abuse."

The Galashiels service provides emotional and practical support, advocacy and information to women and girls from 12-years-old who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives.

And they fear Sheriff Drummond's approach will dissuade victims coming forward.

Support & Advocacy Worker Natalie Baillie added: "This affects people's confidence in the system.

"At present it would be difficult for us to counter any concern a survivor may have that her complaint would be treated with respect."

Scottish Women's Aid have also hit out at the Sheriff's remarks and the decision to grant an absolute discharge.

Their post stated: "Outside of the Borders, a recent domestic abuse court case got virtually no publicity.

"Yet it involved a shocking case where a [man], who had spent four nights in custody facing six domestic related charges over three years, was granted an absolute discharge when he changed his plea before trial and admitted one charge of using threatening and abusive behaviour towards his wife.

"That absolute discharge means he will have no criminal conviction."

We contacted Scottish Court Services about the backlash but they declined to comment.