News In Focus

Further rise in recorded domestic abuse

30 October 2012

Almost 60,000 incidents of domestic abuse were recorded by Scottish police in 2011-12, according to figures released by Scotland’s Chief Statistician today.

The publication records that there were 59,847 incidents in 2011-12, compared to 55,698 recorded in 2010-11, a 7% increase. Of these, 54% (32,369) led to a recording of a crime or offence, a lower percentage than the 58% in 2010-11 but giving rise to an identical number of such incidents (32,370 in 2010-11).

The most common offence was common assault (44% of indicents involving offences), followed by threatening or abusive behaviour at 17%.

For incidents where information was available, 62% of incidents in 2011-12 involved victims who had previously experienced domestic abuse, compared with 55% the year before.

Incidents with a female victim and a male perpetrator represented 81% of all incidents in 2011-12 where this information was recorded, the same as in 2010-11. The reverse situation occurred in 17% of cases. On a per head of population basis, females are at most risk of being victims of domestic abuse when aged between 22 and 25, and males when aged between 31 and 35.

Incidents involving cohabitees or partners accounted for 42% of all cases, and incidents involving spouses a further 13%. In 44% of cases where relationship details were recorded, the victim and perpetrator were ex-partners or ex-spouses.

Health Secretary Alex Neil said that tackling domestic abuse was "a top priority" for the Scottish Government, and it had committed £34m to tackling domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women over the next three years.