Domestic abuse on increase in Stirling
Reports of domestic abuse incidents are on the rise in Stirling as new police data has revealed the state of offending across the region.
The latest performance report from Police Scotland for the period from April 1 to December 31 last year also reveals a rise in the number of fraud cases and assaults over that period.
However, housebreakings and road traffic offences are among the areas which have seen a decline in offending in Stirling according to the report.
It reveals that 721 domestic abuse incidents were recorded in 2021/22, compared to a total of 645 for the same period in 2020/21 - but the percentage of incidents which resulted in a crime report being submitted fell from 41.6 per cent in 2020/21 to 38.4 per cent in 2021/22.
The troubling statistics are reflected more widely across the Forth Valley areas, with a rise of 103 incidents reported between last year’s data and this year’s figures.
The number of fraud cases investigated by cops in Forth Valley is also on the rise, with 648 cases reported for 2021/22 compared to 540 the previous year.
Stirling witnessed a rise of 19 fraud cases during the same recorded period, with 188 incidents reported in the figure for quarter three.
However, the report also reveals areas of improvement for certain offences, with housebreakings almost halving from 121 to 64, while there has also been a drop in the number of rapes and attempted rapes in Stirling from 40 to 28 in 2021/22.
Meanwhile, a focus from local officers on road safety offences has also yielded a fall in motor vehicle crime and speeding, although the number of people caught drink or drug driving did record a jump forward to 97 last year.
Chief Superintendent Alan Gibson, Divisional Commander for Forth Valley, said: “Our Q3 data highlights one of this country’s most challenging periods of time for policing, with the significant resources required to support the COP26 summit, as well as dealing with the ongoing issues of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I believe we have risen to these challenges and public confidence in policing remains high.
“I want to thank my officers and staff for their outstanding efforts during this time.
“I fully acknowledge that there are a number of crime types that have risen, when compared to previous periods where the division and the rest of the country were in lockdown or subject to Covid restrictions.
“I want to reassure our communities that all necessary resources will be dedicated to these issues to address rising crime trends, support victims and bring perpetrators to justice.
“Across Scotland, fraud is still on the rise and DCC Taylor confirmed this reflects the challenging nature of cyber spaces in terms of policing.
“The Police Scotland Cyber Strategy aims to enhance our investigative capabilities in this realm and the investment of more resource will be of benefit to officers here in Forth Valley, as well as in other regions of the country.”