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Domestic abuse recorded by police 2007-08
25/11/2008
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Domestic Abuse recorded by the police in Scotland, 2007-08. The publication includes key statistics on the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police.
The main findings are:
- There were 49,655 incidents of domestic abuse recorded in 2007-08, compared to the 48,801 incidents recorded in 2006-07. This equates to just under a two per cent increase on 2006-07, and continues the steady increase in incidents reported since 1999-00, the first year for which data is available
- Half of the incidents recorded in 2007-08 (24,834) led to the recording of a crime or offence
- The most common crime or offence recorded in 2007-08 remained the offence of minor assault, 22 per cent (10,994) of all incidents, with breach of the peace, 16 per cent (7,736), the second most common
- The overall incidence of domestic abuse reported to the police in Scotland in 2007-08 was 965 per 100,000 population, compared to 954 per 100,000 in 2006-07
- For those incidents where information was available on whether or not the victim had previously been recorded as being a domestic abuse victim, 54 per cent of the cases involved known repeat victimisation compared to 57 per cent in 2006-07
- 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 25 years and males when aged between 31 and 35 years
- Incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police involving co-habitees or partners accounted for 44 per cent of all cases, with more cases recorded relating to co-habitees (24 per cent) than to partners (20 per cent). Incidents involving spouses accounted for a further 16 per cent
- Since 2000-01, the percentage of incidents involving spouses, co-habitees and partners has decreased from 69 per cent to 60 per cent. This has mainly been driven by a substantial decrease in the percentage of incidents involving spouses over this period (from 25 per cent in 2000-01 to 16 per cent in 2007-08).
- In 38 per cent of cases in 2007-08 the victim and perpetrator were ex-partners or ex-spouses. This percentage has increased from 30 per cent in 2000-01
- The overwhelming majority of incidents of domestic abuse took place in the home/house (90 per cent 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)
Statistical data is now reported on a financial year timescale rather than an annual year. Data from April 2000 to date is available in the Bulletin, with data for 1999-00 available on request.
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 (ACPOS). 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 Scottish Government to collect criminal statistics contains about 360 codes:
'Minor assault' as defined by the Scottish Government 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, severe concussion, internal injuries, loss of consciousness, lacerations requiring sutures which may lead to impairment or disfigurement, or any other injury which may lead to impairment or disfigurement.'
Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff.