Police Professional | Domestic violence crimes up ten percent in Scotland

Domestic violence crimes in Scotland up by ten percent

According to the latest data from Police Scotland, reports of domestic abuse have increased by almost ten percent.

In the period April-June, an increase of 881 registered crimes was recorded compared to the same period in 2023. This is an increase of 3.8 percent compared to the five-year average.

The number of crimes recorded under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act (DASA) showed a 28 per cent increase (from 439 to 563) during the reporting period where the victim was a female, and a 66 per cent increase where the victim was a male (from 12 to 30).

Deputy Chief Constable Steve Johnson, head of the Scottish Police’s major crime and public protection division, said: “Domestic abuse harms far too many people in Scotland – adults, children and communities.

“More reports may indicate greater confidence in our positive response, taking strong action against offenders and supporting victims.

“We are working hard to continually improve our approach to domestic violence, working with partners to meet the needs of victims.

“Our strategy to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), published last year, set out our commitment to supporting and protecting women and girls in Scotland. We have listened, we have heard and we are developing the services we provide to all communities.

“From embedding a trauma-informed approach from the first point of contact, to equipping our officers with access to a BSL version of our domestic abuse questionnaire and directly addressing a significant gap, to continuing our campaigning approach to prevention.”

Police Scotland has launched a new training course for frontline officers. Developed with SafeLives, it covers a range of topics including: DASA, Multi-agency Tools for Keeping People Safe, Cybercrime, South Asian Women and Children and Trauma. All CPD modules have been shaped and informed by the experiences of survivors of domestic abuse.

And the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) has potentially protected and saved thousands of lives.

Since its introduction in 2015, almost 25,000 (24,463) applications have been made to the scheme. Approximately 14,000 (13,923) disclosures have been made. The disclosures inform people about their partner’s violent past, help them plan their safety and make informed decisions about continuing their relationship.

An update on the implementation of Police Scotland’s strategy to tackle violence against women and girls has been provided to the Scottish Police Authority’s Policing Performance Committee.

Improving victims’ experiences with the criminal justice system is an important part of delivery.

Mr Johnson added: “We are working with partners to put victims’ experiences at the heart of the criminal justice process.

“This includes developing our capacity across the country to record interviews with victims that can be used as evidence in court.

“Or the hugely significant impact of pilot projects on summary case management, which have accelerated access to justice and reduced the need for victims to appear before the courts.

“And our efforts extend beyond our borders, through our ties to international law enforcement.

“We are part of a global network to tackle the criminal gangs behind the sexual exploitation that disproportionately affects women, and the individuals who use the internet to manipulate and abuse children around the world.”