POLICE Scotland has warned domestic abusers “we are coming for you” at the launch of a fresh Christmas crackdown on offenders.
The force highlighted a 25 per cent rise in reports of domestic abuse over Christmas last year.
Between Christmas Eve 2016 and January 5 2017 an average of 199 reports of domestic incidents were received by police daily, compared to 158.5 outside the holiday period.
The new #every9minutes campaign, using cinema, radio and digital adverts, is aimed at perpetrators but will also encourage reporting. Police Scotland has also announced more than £110,000 of extra funding for new domestic abuse alarms for high-risk victims, due to be rolled out early next year.
Assistant Chief Constable Gillian MacDonald said: “Domestic abusers want to control the actions and thoughts of their victims. This can take the form of violence but equally it can be threats or other abuse which demean their victim, destroying their confidence and isolating them financially or from family and support. If you commit domestic abuse, there will be consequences. We are coming for you.”
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “This campaign is an excellent challenge to all perpetrators, reminding them that police officers take a zero-tolerance approach and are fully prepared to take on what is one of society’s most insidious crimes.”
The Scottish Government’s Domestic Abuse Bill, which will make psychological abuse a criminal offence, is currently making its way through parliament.
Matheson added: “I want victims of domestic abuse to know they will be taken seriously and be supported by the justice system even if it seems like they are alone.
“If passed by Parliament, this legislation will deliver more effective powers to pursue perpetrators, helping us on our way to eradicate domestic abuse from our society.”
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