Scottish Government figures on domestic abuse in Inverclyde

Scottish Government data released on Tuesday revealed there were 747 domestic abuse incidents recorded by police in Inverclyde during the 12 months to March 31, 2024.

That compares to a total of 806 the previous year and continues a steady year-on-year fall in reported incidents in the area dating back to a high of 935 in 2019-20.

The figures for the full year are in contrast to local statistics, reported by the Tele last week, in which domestic abuse rose by 19.5 per cent year-on-year in the five months from APril 1 to August 31, 2024.

READ MORE: Domestic abuse and violent crime on the rise in Inverclyde - though crime overall is down 

It also bucks a Scotland-wide trend which is seeing recorded domestic abuse rise, with a total of 63,867 incidents recorded across the country in 2023-24 – almost 1,000 more than in the previous 12 months.

The number of incidents per 10,000 people in Inverclyde has also dropped to a 10-year low – from 103 per 10,000 residents in 2022-23 to 95 last year.

Total numbers also rose in the two local authorities closest to Inverclyde – from 2,061 to 2,088 in Renfrewshire, and from 1,618 to 1,800 in North Ayrshire.

Nationally, around four in five (81 per cent) of all incidents where gender was recorded involved a female victim and a male perpetrator – the same as the previous two years.

Those aged between 31 and 35 had the highest rates of domestic abuse incidents of any age group, at 267 victims per 10,000 of the population.

Victims minister Siobhian Brown said: “Domestic abuse is abhorrent, and while there has been a small increase in the number of incidents reported to police, we know that it is this type of crime than can go unreported.

“The Scottish Government continues to encourage victims to contact Police Scotland and also seek help and support.

“We are continuing to make changes to the justice system to make it easier to report incidents and we have legislated to give police, prosecutors and the courts greater powers to tackle domestic abuse crimes.

Victims minister Siobhian Brown says the Scottish Government is making it easier for people to report crimes of domestic abuse. (Image: NQ) “To support victims, we are providing more than £7.5 million to Women’s Aid groups in 2024-25 through our delivering equally safe fund and £1.7 million to Scotland’s domestic abuse and forced marriage helpline which provides round-the-clock support – 0800 027 1234.”

Scottish Conservative MSP Pam Gosal, who represents the West Scotland region, which includes Inverclyde, and who has proposed a Bill to create a domestic violence register, said the national figures were “utterly appalling”.

And Scottish Labour’s community safety spokeswoman Katy Clark, who also represents West Scotland, said: “That domestic abuse is on the rise once again is a disturbing reminder of how often the justice system fails women and girls.

“Everyone should have a right to feel safe in their own home, but sadly for tens of thousands of Scots this is not the case.”