Renfrewshire Council to provide support to assault scar victims in 'first of its kind' motion

A council has passed a “first of kind” motion to provide specialist support for victims who are inflicted with a facial scar due to an assault.

Anyone within the Renfrewshire Council area who is left with a facial scar due to an assault will be supported as a victim of an extremely traumatic experience.

The motion, which passed unanimously with cross-party support, will make Renfrewshire the first county in the UK to begin working on providing this support to victims of facial scarring.

Councillor Robert Innes, who is a victim of facial scarring after being assaulted with a pint glass when he was 15, brought forward the motion.

The Linwood councillor was inspired to put support in place after outlining the lack of help he found with his own scar.

He said: “Victims of permanent facial scarring suffer difficult and life-long trauma. People who suffer due to knife attacks or ‘slashing’ experience stigma and can be vilified in social and professional life due to their scarring.

“This issue means so much to me, as a victim of facial scarring due to an assault. It’s a difficult issue to talk about and I’m in a position that I can so I have. I cannot be happier to see this motion receive cross party support from my peers.

“I am keen to see the assistance and help this will provide for victims in their lives as Renfrewshire leads the way in shaping this specialist support for people who are discriminated against due to an assault they endured.

“Charities and organisations have been empathetic to this issue and have encouraged this move. I am keen to see collaborative work begin between the council and organisations and charities that provide support to victims.”