Slight rise in domestic abuse cases in Scotland

The number of domestic abuse incidents has risen by 1% over the past year, according to figures released by Police Scotland.

Between April 2016 and March 2017 59,000 incidents were recorded, nearly half of which resulted in at least one crime or offence being recorded.

In 79% of cases there was a female victim and a male accused. Women were accused by men in 18% of incidents.

The overall figure has decreased slightly over the past five years.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said the figures were "evidence of the unacceptable levels of domestic abuse in Scotland".

"We know these figures don't paint the whole picture, as victims are often too afraid to report abuse," he said.

An ex-partner, ex-spouse or ex-civil partner of the victim was accused of domestic abuse in almost half of the recorded incidents.

In 3% of cases, both the victim and the accused were of the same sex.

More than two thirds of incidents took place in the victim's home.

Across Scotland, there were 109 incidents of abuse per 10,000 of the population. West Dunbartonshire and Dundee City had the highest number of reported incidents per 10,000 people.

The lowest number of reported cases per 10,000 people was in the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands, with 47 and 50 respectively.

Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Nelson Telfer said: "Domestic abuse is a continuing problem which affects every community across Scotland.

"Domestic abuse is often about control, the blame for which lies solely with the perpetrators."