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Dedicated courts dealing with domestic abuse are to be considered by the Scottish executive, Margaret Curran, minister for social justice has announced.

Curran said: "The domestic abuse courts would possibly allow us to make sure that individual cases are properly followed through, and provide an opportunity for training for sheriffs and judges to make sure that they properly understand the experience of women and children."

Curran made the decision to raise the debate on domestic abuse courts following a Scottish executive working group report and recommendations.

Campaign groups such as Women’s Aid have long campaigned for such a move complaining that women’s issues take too long to be processed, need sensitive treatment by a judiciary familiar with the complex issues and the needs of women and children.

Domestic abuse courts are also strongly advocated by Strathclyde Police, the country’s largest police force, which has introduced training for all officers by Women’s Aid staff. In Strathclyde last year there were 14,900 domestic abuse complaints believed to be only a fraction of the real total of incidents.