Rise in tag rulings for domestic abuse offenders

THE number of offenders electronically tagged after being convicted of domestic abuse has soared over the last five years, according to new figures.

Statistics revealed in a Scottish Parliament written answer show there were 44 people sentenced to a restriction of liberty order for domestic abuse in 2010-11, rising to 110 in 2014-15.

The Scottish Government said the rise could reflect an increase in the number of cases reaching the courts due to a stronger emphasis on tackling domestic abuse by police and prosecutors.

Separate figures published last year show there were 59,882 domestic abuse incidents reported in 2014-15, compared with 58,439 in 2013-14, an increase of 2.5 per cent.

The Scottish Conservatives warned tagging should not be used as a replacement for jail in relation to domestic abuse.

The party’s justice spokesman Douglas Ross, who requested the data, said: “Electronic tagging is certainly a useful tool in the box in this regard, but we need to avoid a situation where it is being used as a means to reduce the prison population when even a short custodial sentence might be more appropriate.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said an extra £20 million was being invested over three years in addition to £11.8m annual funding to tackle violence against women, including domestic abuse. He said: “Evidence indicates community sentences, including electronic monitoring, are more effective at reducing reoffending than short prison sentences, partly why Scotland currently has the lowest reconviction rate in 16 years.”