Nine out of ten dodge jail over domestic abuse

... despite SNP pledge to get tough

NEARLY 90 per cent of thugs who attack or abuse their partners are spared prison.

Ministers have repeatedly trumpeted their ‘get tough’ approach on domestic abuse.

But new figures show only 13.7 per cent of such offenders – one in seven – are locked up.

The disclosure comes after MsPs passed legislation aimed at tackling psychological domestic abuse.

Last night, the figures sparked anger over the ‘gap between the rhetoric and reality’ in scotland’s soft-touch justice system.

scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘People will be stunned that so few people convicted of domestic abuse see the inside of a jail cell.’

he added: ‘if the sNP Government wants to be serious about domestic abuse, it needs to ensure punishment for those convicted of it is more severe.

‘And with the sNP planning to abolish prison sentences under 12 months, this could lead to even fewer domestic abusers being jailed.’

scottish Government figures show 1,692 domestic abusers were jailed in 2015-16, the most recent data available, out of a total of 12,374 offenders.

Of the rest, 3,551 were given community service, 2,901 were fined, 4,004 were admonished – effectively let off with a warning. The remainder were undisclosed disposals, not detailed.

According to the scottish Government, police recorded 58,810 domestic abuse incidents in 2016-17 – 161 a day – up 1 per cent on 58,104 previously.

Dr Marsha scott, chief executive of scottish Women’s Aid, warned the low proportion of

‘Disappointment to victims’

jail terms for domestic abusers was not a sufficient ‘deterrent’.

she said: ‘There is a massive gap between how seriously the scottish criminal justice system says it takes this issue and the extent to which the courts issue effective sanctions – a gap between the rhetoric and realtences ity.’ Of those jailed for domestic abuse, it is estimated only 1 per cent are sent to prison for more than a year, she added.

This has raised concern that the sNP’s planned presumption against jail terms of less than a year will lead to many more domestic abusers avoiding prison.

Labour justice spokesman Daniel Johnson said: ‘it is shocking only one in seven of those convicted of crimes where domestic abuse was involved were given a custodial sentence and this will come as a great disappointment to victims.

‘it is important that, while of course the courts are independent from Government, the sen- handed out are appropriate for the crime.’

The Domestic Abuse (scotland) Bill was passed last month. it created a specific offence of domestic abuse and covers psychological and emotional maltreatment and coercive and controlling behaviour as well as physical attacks.

A scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The reforms in our recently passed Domestic Abuse Act will strengthen the protection for victims.

They include a new statutory offence which enables the courts to impose a range of sentences, including custodial terms of up to 14 years for the most serious cases.’