The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Worrying rise in domestic abuse during lockdown
Increase in calls relating to family disputes over contact with children
Latest police figures show a rise in domestic abuse crimes during lockdown across Dundee and Fife.
From the start of April to the end of June, figures show calls to police relating to domestic abuse soared as people were told to stay at home to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Police Scotland said feedback from partnership agencies and local officers indicated there was an increase in calls to the force in relation to family disputes about contact with children.
This led to more reports of concern being registered by police.
The figures confirm the fears expressed by local women’s aid charities at the start of lockdown. In March, Scottish Women’s Aid said social isolation could put more women and children at risk.
Dundee City Council area saw a 14% increase in crime reports resulting from recorded incidents, up from 264 to 302 compared to the same period the previous year.
Across Dundee, the number of incidents recorded by police increased from 599 to 661.
Meanwhile in Fife, there were 92 more incidents in the first quarter of this financial year, the figure rising to 1,304.
Reports relating to domestic abuse in the region increased from 538 to 565.
Although draft figures and not official statistics, Police Scotland’s quarterly management information reports show crime trends across authority areas.
The figures indicated that just under half of recorded incidents resulted in crime reports.
Detective Superintendent Debbie Forrester, head of Police Scotland’s domestic abuse taskforce, said: “After an initial slight decrease, calls about domestic incidents steadily increased as lockdown progressed.
“Many of the calls within this steady increase related to people reporting concerns or looking for advice. Feedback from our partners and local divisions suggests that many of these calls were in relation to issues and disputes about child contact.”
Across Perth and Kinross, there was a significant increase in incidents, 381 compared to 329 the previous year, and a slight increase in crimes reported, from 141 to 148.
In Angus, there was a slight decrease in crime reports, from 143 to 139.
Any calls raising concerns about domestic abuse result in a concern report being recorded on Police Scotland’s Vulnerable Persons Database (VPD).
Ms Forrester added: “These types of calls do not always result in a crime report being recorded. However, importantly, they do help us identify people who may be experiencing some form of adversity which may impact on their current or future wellbeing.
“Abuse and neglect of adults and children is everyone’s business and communities can help tackle it. We have continued to respond to all calls of domestic incidents throughout lockdown. And we worked with our partners to ensure people were aware that information, help and support continued to be available when needed.”