BATTERED WIVES TO GET PANIC ROOMS; EXCLUSIVE Move to protect women from violent partners.

Byline: By Stephen Stewart 

BATTERED women in Scotland's biggest city are set to be given hi-tech panic rooms to protect them from their violent partners.

The "sanctuaries" will be fortified with solid doors, mortice locks, steel hinges, bolts and spy glasses.

Some women will also be offered security intercom systems and barred windows.

The scheme in Glasgow is a real-life echo of the hit movie Panic Room, where Jodie Foster and her daughter used a secure room to save themselves when crooks broke into their home.

Superstars including Sir Paul McCartney and Madonna have had panic rooms installed in their houses.

Bosses at Glasgow City Council hope to fit panic rooms in homes across the city as part of a pilot scheme.

Councillor Ruth Simpson, of the ruling Labour group, said: "This could help protect women from attacks while they wait for help. It's a highly innovative approach to a major problem.

"We have a massive responsibility to victims to look at novel approaches."

At the moment, women driven from their homes by violent men are moved to temporary housing.

But Simpson, who has campaigned for years for women's rights, believes it is better for victims to stay in their homes if their safety can be guaranteed.

She said: "The women would not be uprooted. They could retain a link with their families and communities and their children would be able to stay in their schools.

"Being moved into temporary accommodation can be especially difficult for young children."

Council insiders stressed that only women who chose to have the panic rooms would be given them. They would be used in cases where violent men have left home but still pose a threat of returning and attacking their ex-partners.

Up to 10 rooms would be installed under the pilot scheme.

One former victim of domestic violence welcomed the scheme. She said: "This certainly sounds like a good idea. Anything that helps women to feel more secure in their homes has to be a good thing.

"I would have been glad to have had some sort of protection from my ex-boyfriend breaking in."

Clare Connelly, a legal expert at Glasgow University who specialises in domestic abuse cases, added: "Anything that increases the safety of women and children should be applauded."

She said the panic room scheme showed that councils were taking "a more responsive approach" to the problem.

Domestic violence claims two lives every week in Britain.

Most victims are women but husbands and people in gay relationships can also be at risk.

As well as providing better protection for families, council bosses believe the panic room scheme could save local taxpayers money.

It can cost pounds 16,000 a year to move a family to temporary housing and the cost of installing a basic panic room is just pounds 1000.

The contract to fit the rooms will be put out to tender but City Building, the council's former building services department, is favourite to pick up the work.

Glasgow Housing Association, who manage the bulk of the city's former council houses, vowed to work closely with the council on the project.

CAPTION(S):

SANCTUARY: Jodie Foster takes refuge with screen daughter Kristen Stewart in the movie Panic Room; BOX OFFICE HIT: Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart in the movie Panic Room MERRICK MORTON; SUPPORT: Ruth Simpson