The Council underlined its firm commitment to working in partnership with a range of key partners, including Women’s Aid, to tackle domestic abuse.
Convenor of the Public Safety Committee, Councillor Maureen Bennison, said, “Financial abuse is a common factor of domestic abuse. Perpetrators of domestic abuse will use any means of control available to them, and money is a common tool they use. By controlling their partner’s access to money, the abuser can control the victim.
“Across Forth Valley, 1 in 5 women are subjected to domestic abuse. Across Scotland, Police Scotland figures reveal they answer a call regarding domestic abuse every 9 seconds. These are just the cases that are known and reported. Split payments for Universal Credit is an absolute necessity for women who live with domestic abuse.”