Police Scotland respond to almost 64,000 domestic abuse calls

Rates of domestic abuse recorded by police have risen for the first time in three years.

Statistics released by the Scottish Government show there were 63,867 incidents of domestic abuse recorded in 2023-24 - a 3% increase on the year before.

The rate of domestic abuse is below the 2020-21 peak but is higher than previous years on record.

Nearly two-fifths (38%) of domestic abuse incidents involved police recording at least one crime or offence.

Common assault was the most common type of offence, accounting for 31% of all crimes recorded.

Crimes against the public accounted for 20% of the crimes, threatening and abusive behaviour accounted for another 20%, and vandalism was 6% of the total.

Following its introduction in 2019, 5% of crime and offences were recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act.

The law created a new offence around non-physical forms of abuse such as coercive control and where children see, hear or are present during an incident.

Around 51% of domestic abuse incidents in Moray involved recording a crime - the highest in Scotland.

East Dunbartonshire had the least crimes recorded during such incidents at 31%, followed by the Highlands (32%) and Angus (32%).

Across Scotland, there were 116 incidents of domestic abuse recorded per 10,000 of the population, although this varied widely by region.

Dundee had the highest rate of domestic abuse per 10,000 people at 183, while West Dunbartonshire recorded a rate of 154 and West Lothian 149.

Around four in five (81%) of all incidents where gender was recorded involved a female victim and a male perpetrator - the same as the previous two years.

Those aged between 31 and 35 had the highest rates of domestic abuse incidents of any age group, at 267 victims per 10,000 of the population.

Just under a third of incidents (31%) occurred at the weekend in 2023-24. This is a slight decrease from 32% in 2022-23.

In 2023-24, 90% of all domestic abuse incidents where location was recorded occurred in a home or dwelling.

Of the domestic abuse incidents where the relationship between the victim and the suspected perpetrator was known, 50% were between ex-partners.

Around two-thirds (65%) of incidents involved a victim and suspected perpetrator who had previously been recorded in a domestic abuse incident.

Scottish Conservative MSP Pam Gosal - who has proposed a Bill to create a domestic violence register - said the figures are "utterly appalling".

She added: "Police recorded an incident every 10 minutes last year, and the problem is getting worse.

"We need urgent action, especially in relation to reoffending and targeting those who abuse again and again.

"These statistics indicate around two-thirds of domestic abuse crimes are committed by those who have done it before. That is an appalling reflection on dealing with those who've been guilty of domestic abuse in the past.

"My member's Bill would mean many of those convicted of domestic abuse would face the shame of being put on a register, something that would increase deterrence and place potential victims in a much stronger position."

Scottish Labour community safety spokeswoman Katy Clark said: "That domestic abuse is on the rise once again is a disturbing reminder of how often the justice system fails women and girls.

"Everyone should have a right to feel safe in their own home, but sadly for tens of thousands of Scots this is not the case.

"This SNP Government must ensure that the bullies who abuse feel the consequences of their actions."

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