REPORTS to police of instances of domestic violence have increased by 25% in the past year, figures show, despite a slight drop in overall violent crime.
Statistics released by the Scottish Government show a jump from 1845 reports under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act in the year up to September 2023 to 2313 up to September of this year.
But overall non-sexual crimes of violence dropped by 1%, from 71,571 to 71,002.
Murder and culpable homicide decreased by 11% compared to the previous year and by 23% from the year ending September 2020.
Recorded instances of rape and attempted rape increased by 10% from 2501 to 2746, despite an overall reduction of sexual crimes from 14,704 to 14,651.
Sexual crimes were, however, 12% higher compared to the year ending September 2020.
Crimes of dishonesty increased by 4% due to a 25% rise in shoplifting reports while dangerous and reckless behaviour dropped by 5%.
Crimes against society – which includes drugs offences and weapons possession – increased by 2%, with “crimes against public justice”, which covers crimes including resisting arrest and attempts to pervert the course of justice, increasing by 11%.
The Scottish Tories said the figures were a result of the Scottish Government’s “weak justice agenda and sustained cuts to policing”.
“It is particularly alarming to see a rise in the number of rapes and sexual assault cases, which have gone up considerably in the space of a year,” said the party’s justice spokesman Liam Kerr.
“SNP ministers must put victims’ needs first, rather than those of dangerous criminals whose punishment often doesn’t fit the nature of their offences."
In total, the police in Scotland recorded 300,134 crimes in the year ending September 2024, which is 1% higher than the 297,425 crimes recorded in the year ending September 2023.
The number of offences recorded in the year ending September 2024 was 183,640.
Anti-social offences were 4% higher compared to the year ending September 2023, but 17% lower compared to the year ending September 2020.
Road traffic offences were 6% higher compared to the year ending September 2023 and 4% higher compared to the year ending September 2020.
The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.
