99 reports under new Domestic Abuse Act
Almost 100 domestic abuse offences have been recorded in Ayrshire following the introduction last year of the Domestic Abuse ( Scotland) Act 2018.
The new Act was introduced on April 1, 2019 and created a single offence covering the full range of abusive behaviours including physical, psychological, financial and sexual abuse.
There were 99 offences recorded across Ayrshire in 2019/ 20 and of these, 92 involved female victims and seven male victims.
The statistics come as Police Scotland published its Performance Report, introduced by Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor, and Quarter 4 Management Information.
They show that 1681 offences were recorded in the first year of the Act being introduced. A total of 1158 offences were detected in that period.
Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain, divisional commander of Ayrshire, said: “These year- end figures reflect a rise in confidence in our communities coming forward to report crime.
“Police Scotland officers are in our local communities every day building trust, strengthening partnerships and protecting vulnerable people from harm. Officers also have the direct support and expertise of national specialist divisions like our domestic abuse unit and child protection unit.
“We know that private and virtual spaces are not safe places for everyone and I would appeal to anyone who feels that they or someone they know might be at risk, to please get in touch.”
Earlier this month, the Post reported how domestic abuse was on the rise since the lockdown began,
Women’s Aid urged women living with domestic abuse that support is out there and despite being in lockdown they CAN leave.
Shirley Middleditch, Interim Manager at South Ayrshire Women’s Aid, said: “We’re still supporting women and children as best as we can by phone, email and if they’ve got access to Whatsapp. We wouldn’t be able to give them access to our refuge because we can’t take somebody that may take the coronavirus in.”
“But we can point them in the right direction. Housing are still available to help people. If it was a matter of life and death then we’d just have to risk assess.”
Recent figures highlighted a shocking 4213 incidents of domestic abuse were recorded in Ayrshire last year.
Of those incidents, police recorded 1074 cases in South Ayrshire in 2018/ 19, up on the previous year’s figure of 1027.
In East Ayrshire, the figure is higher at 1468, up on the previous year’s figure of 1405.
Karen Gardner, of East Ayrshire Women’s Aid, said those figures are on the rise due to COVID- 19.
The Women’s Aid teams are urging women to get in touch by any means they can, be it through a friend or a GP.
• For help and advice in South Ayrshire, visit: http:// southayrshirewomensaid. org. uk/ about- us/ or https:// w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / SouthAyrshireWomensAid/.
Tel: 01292 266482. Email: enquiries@ sawamail. org. uk • For help and advice in East Ayrshire: visit https:// www. eastayrshirewomensaid. org. uk/ Tel: 01563 536001.
These figures reflect a rise in confidence in our communities coming forward to report crime