Be no festive let-up
Officers warn perpetrators there will
doors. Neighbours usually have no idea what is happening so close to home. In this case, the detention of a 37- year- old man by the Domestic Abuse Task Force happens in the same way.
The officers, all dressed in plain clothes and wearing stab-proof vests, reappear from the property accompanied by the occupant of the house.
Dressed in a designer grey jumper and blue jeans, a black face-mask covers his mouth and nose and he keeps his head down as he is ushered into an unmarked police car. Two of the McMillan of the Domestic Abuse Task officers drive off with man, the other Force (East) said: “We want everyone officers follow in separate cars. to have a safe and happy Christmas.
From the time of the officers entering “People should have a right to feel the building to when they leave, no safe in their own homes. more than 10 minutes has passed. “If someone doesn’t feel safe – if
Across the country, other police they are the victim of domestic abuse teams have been carrying out or if they believe they know someone similar operations all week. who is the v ictim of domestic
They say the timing of their actions abuse, then we would encourage them hasn’t been directly inf luenced by to contact us.
Christmas – when cases of domestic “We have no hesitation in continuing abuse traditionally increase. to arrest perpetrators of domestic
But as Police Scotland launches its abuse at this or any other time of year.” latest domestic abuse awareness Figures released earlier this year campaign, it does have a Christmas showed domestic abuse and stalking wish. Detective Inspector Stevie charges were at their highest level in For anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or those available from Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced
We have n hesitatio no ng to continui in at arrest them this or any other time of year
four years. A total of 30,718 charges were recorded across Scotland in the year 2019-2020 – a 5.7 per cent rise on the previous year and the highest number since 2015-16.
Since lockdown was imposed at the end of March, the number of reports of domestic incidents received by Police Scotland increased by 6.8 per cent.
Police bosses, who work closely with partner agencies to support victims, hope that doesn’t necessarily mean incidences of domestic abuse have gone up but rather more people are finding the confidence and courage to report them.
Detective Superintendent Debbie
Forrester is Scotland’s leadead officer for domestic abuse.
She said: “We actually saw a slight decrease in the first couple of weeks of lockdown, then it steadily increased.
“I would like to think it’s because we have been consistent in our messaging – encouraging people to contact us and letting everyone know that domestic abuse has remained a priority.
“Domestic abuse tends to go up at Christmas – but it goes up at other times of the year when people are having concentrated family time.
“That was a real concern in terms of lockdown – that enforced confinement.” The new domestic abuse campaign aims to encourage anyone who is a victim or at risk of domestic abuse – or knows anyone who is a victim or at risk – to call 101, or in an emergency dial 999.
It will highlight that the Christmas season is not a time of celebration for everyone. For victims of domestic abuse – including children – it can be a time of additional stress and fear.
It will remind people that domestic abuse doesn’t always leave physical scars and bruises.
Emotional abuse, where abusers use coercive control and other behaviour to isolate, humiliate and frighten their victims can be just as damaging. Det Supt Forrester said it was encouraging to see a sharp rise in the number of people using the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland.
The scheme aims to prevent domestic abuse by giving anyone the right to ask the police about the background of their partner.
Since the start of lockdown, 2497 people have applied for information through the disclosure scheme – up 30 per cent on the same period last year.
Det Supt Forrester said: “Applications to the scheme have been increasing year on year but a 30 per cent increase is unprecedented.
“It shows that across society people are much more aware of what we can do to help someone affected by domestic abuse.”