This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Domestic Abuse Recorded By the Police in Scotland 2003
28/01/2005
Figures released today show a 10 per cent increase in
the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the
police in 2003.
A
statistical
bulletin has revealed that the number of incidents of
domestic abuse recorded by the Scottish police increased
from 36,010 in 2002 to 39,643 in 2003.
The bulletin confirms the pattern of domestic abuse
described in previous studies, that the overwhelming
majority of domestic abuse is perpetrated by males against
females. In 2003, incidents with a female victim and male
perpetrator represented 89 per cent (34,443) of all
incidents of domestic abuse where this information was
recorded.
Other findings include:
- In contrast with previous years, the majority of
incidents of domestic abuse recorded in 2003 (52 per
cent, 20,624 incidents) comprised behaviour that led to
the recording of a crime or offence. This reflects
changes in recording practice in Strathclyde and
Tayside, where the proportion of incidents recorded as
a crime or offence increased from 33 per cent to 42 per
cent and from 35 per cent to 67 per cent
respectively.
- The most common crime or offence being recorded, in
2003, was petty assault, 24 per cent (9,444) of all
incidents, followed by breach of the peace, 19 per cent
(7,457) of all incidents.
- The overall incidence of domestic abuse recorded by
the police in Scotland was 784 per 100,000
population.
- For those incidents where information was available
on whether or not the victim had previously been
recorded as being a domestic abuse victim, about 45 per
cent (16,460) of the cases involved known repeat
victimisation.
- When looking at the incidence per 100,000
population, females are at most risk of being victims
of domestic abuse when aged between 22 and 30 and males
when aged between 31 and 35.
- Nearly half of the incidents (18,039) of domestic
abuse recorded by the police involved co-habitees or
spouses. There are slightly fewer cases where the
partners were married (8,347) compared to where they
were not (9,692). In 33 per cent of cases, the victim
and perpetrator were ex-partners (9,329) or ex-spouses
(2,700). In 17 per cent (6,315) of cases, the victim
and perpetrator were in an on-going relationship but
were not cohabiting. This pattern is similar to that
shown in previous years.
- The overwhelming majority of incidents of domestic
abuse took place in the home (92 per cent (35,090) of
all incidents where the location was recorded). This
was more likely if the victim and perpetrator cohabited
i.e. were a `spouse' or `co-habitee' (95 per cent of
all incidents where location was recorded).
A statistical collection on domestic abuse (previously
referred to as domestic violence) was recommended in the
Report of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Hitting Home - A
Report on the Police Response to Domestic Violence
1997.
The recommendations from this report were progressed
through the domestic violence working group of the Scottish
Criminal Statistics Committee, involving ACPO(S), nominated
representatives which agreed the following definition:
'Domestic abuse is any form of physical, non-physical,
or sexual abuse which takes place within the context of a
close relationship, committed either in the home or
elsewhere. This relationship will be between partners
(married, co-habiting or otherwise) or ex-partners.'
The statistical return from which the figures in this
bulletin are taken, is a simple count of the numbers of
incidents of domestic abuse returned by the police using
the definition agreed above. Following current terminology
these incidents are now referred to as incidents of
domestic abuse.
Contraventions of Scottish criminal law are divided for
Scottish Executive Justice Department statistical purposes
into crimes and offences. The distinction is made only for
statistical purposes and the 'seriousness' of the offence
is generally related to the maximum sentence that can be
imposed.
The detailed classification of crimes and offences used
by the Executive to collect criminal statistics contains
about 360 codes.
'Petty Assault' as defined by the Scottish Executive is
any assault which does not fall into the following
definition of Serious Assault:
'An assault in which the victim sustained an injury
resulting in detention in hospital as an in-patient or any
of the following injuries whether or not detained in
hospital: fractures, concussion, internal injuries,
crushings, severe cuts or lacerations, or severe general
shock requiring medical treatment.'
In 2001, Tayside police introduced a new method of
compiling the statistical information required for this
bulletin and launched a joint initiative with Barnardo's
Scotland which is believed to have encouraged victims of
domestic abuse to report incidents. These factors are
likely to account for the increase in incidents of domestic
abuse reported by Tayside police in 2001 compared to the
previous year.
During 2003/04 Strathclyde Police rolled out a new
Vulnerable Person (VP) Database which collects information
about domestic, racist and homophobic incidents. This also
involved the back-record conversion of paper records from
September 2002. In the long term this will lead to more
dynamic, accurate and timely data.
This is a Scottish Executive National Statistics
publication. National statistics are produced to high
professional standards set out in the National Statistics
Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance
reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are
produced free from any political interference.