Domestic abuse cases up to 25 a day in Glasgow
POLICE in Glasgow recorded an average of 25 domestic abuse incidents a day, according to new figures. In the last year 2018/19 there were 9202 incidents recorded, a slight increase on the previous year but the highest in the last five years.
In four out of 10 cases the incidents included a recoded crime or offence.
Across Scotland the total was more than 60,000, a 2% increase on the previous year and the highest number in the last 10 years.
In 82% of cases, the victim was female and the accused male. In 16% the accused was female and the victim male.
The most common age of the victim was between 26 and 30 years with just over 10,000 of the Scottish total.
The local authority area with the highest rate per 10,000 of population was Dundee with 165, followed by West Dunbartonshire at 163 then Glasgow at 160.
Humza Yousaf, Justice Secretary, said the latest figures are for the year before the Scottish Parliament passed new Domestic abuse laws.
He said: “Domestic abuse exacts a terrible toll on victims and often causes much wider harms, such as impacting on children’s safety and well-being within the family home.
“Domestic abuse is neither acceptable nor inevitable. We must work collectively – as parents, friends, co-workers and legislators – to bring an end to this blight on society, address underlying attitudes that enable it to persist, call out those who dismiss or minimise its impact, and ensure that perpetrators are dealt with robustly and effectively.”
Glasgow Women’s Aid said the latest figures show how much work is still needed to tackle domestic abuse and on coercive control being a form of abuse.
A spokeswoman said: “The figures show how prevalent domestic abuse still is even with the new legislation.
“The fact that more people are willing to report it is good but there is still a lot of work to be done. our drop in numbers have risen massively.
“There is a 13% conviction rate, it is still low, low conviction rates is one reason why some people are not willing to report to the police.”
Campaigners said the figure is nowhere near the reality of domestic abuse in Scotland.
Dr Marsha Scott, Chief Executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, said: “With these figures we must bear in mind that reports to police are merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to domestic abuse. We know that women are very often reluctant to report for fear of what will happen to them, and to their children. So, while the figure of 60,641 reports is shocking in and of itself, it becomes even more upsetting when you consider it is a fraction of the abuse actually unfolding across Scotland right now.”
Help at Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is available 24/7 on 0800 027 1234.
The figures show how prevalent domestic abuse still is even with the new legislation