The Scottish Government have today released statistics surrounding the number of domestic abuse incidents recorded by Police Scotland in 2021-22.

Police Scotland recorded 64,807 incidents of domestic abuse in 2021-22, a decrease
of 1% from the previous year. Despite this decrease, the most recent results from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey estimated that fewer than one-in-five cases of domestic abuse are reported to the police.

Key points:

  • In 2021-22, 39% of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in
    Scotland included the recording of at least one crime or offence.
  • The type of crime or offence that was most frequently recorded as part of a
    domestic abuse incident in 2021-22 was Common assault, accounting for 32% of
    all crimes and offences recorded. This was followed by threatening and abusive
    behaviour accounting for 21% of crimes and offences.
  • Following its enactment on the 1 April 2019, crimes recorded under the Domestic
    Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 accounted for 4% of crimes and offences recorded as
    part of a domestic abuse incident in 2021-22.
  • There were 118 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland
    per 10,000 population in 2021-22. At a local authority level, Dundee City (172),
    West Dunbartonshire (161) and Glasgow City (147) recorded the highest incident
    rates per 10,000 population.
  • Where gender information was recorded, around four-in-five (81%) incidents of
    domestic abuse in 2021-22 involved a female victim and a male suspected
    perpetrator. This increased slightly from 80% in 2020-21.

We encourage anyone who is affected by domestic abuse to access support through  our online chat or by phoning our helpline on 0800 160 1985.

Victim Support Scotland (VSS) is here to support people when they need it most. Looking beyond the statistics, our teams witness the devastating impact gender-based violence has on peoples’ lives.We all have a collective duty to unite and respond to people’s needs and do what we can to tackle gender-based violence. In response, our staff and volunteers continue to provide practical advice, emotional support as well as financial support through our Emergency Assistance Fund.VSS has also recently introduced remote evidence rooms where victims can pre-record or give evidence via video link to anywhere in the world, in a safe, supported and comfortable environment.

Kate Wallace, Chief Executive Officer at VSS