This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Domestic abuse recorded by the police
26/09/2005
Figures released today show a 10 per cent increase in the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in 2004.
A statistical bulletin has revealed that the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by police forces in Scotland increased from 39,643 in 2003 to 43,678 in 2004.
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 2004, incidents with a female victim and male perpetrator represented 88 per cent (38,117) of all incidents of domestic abuse where this information was recorded.
Other findings include:
- Almost half of the incidents (21,795) comprised behaviour that led to the recording of a crime or offence.
- The most common crime or offence recorded in 2004 was petty assault, 22 per cent (9,701) of all incidents, followed by breach of the peace, 17 per cent (7,309) of all incidents.
- The overall incidence of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland was 860 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, 52 per cent (20,436) 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 26 and 30 and males are most at risk when aged between 31 and 35.
- Nearly 45 per cent of the incidents (19,243) of domestic abuse recorded by the police involved co-habitees or spouses. There were fewer cases where the partners were married (8,525) compared to where they were not (10,718). In 32 per cent of cases, the victim and perpetrator were ex-partners (11,354) or ex-spouses (2,451). In 17 per cent (7,231) of cases, the victim and perpetrator were in an on-going relationship but were not co-habiting. This pattern is similar to that shown in previous years.
- The overwhelming majority of incidents of domestic abuse took place in the home (91 per cent (38,920) of all incidents where the location was recorded). This was more likely if the victim and perpetrator co-habited i.e. were a `spouse' or `co-habitee' (94 per cent of all incidents where location was recorded).
Collecting statistics 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 Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) ACPO(S). Representatives agreed the following definition of domestic abuse:
'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 statistics reported today are a simple count of the numbers of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police using this definition.
The detailed classification of crimes and offences used by the Executive to collect criminal statistics contains about 360 codes: 'Petty Assault' 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 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 conversion of paper records from September 2002. In the long term this will lead to more detailed and accurate data.