SHOCKING new domestic violence figures reveal why “patchwork” funding of women’s aid services must end, a leading advocate says.
Police Scotland recorded more than 62,900 incidents of domestic abuse in 2019-20 as figures rise for the fourth year in a row. Four in five incidents included a female victim and a male accused.
During the same period, 65% of women’s aid services in Scotland saw demand for their services increase – while 81% suffered a real terms cut to their funding from local authorities, according to Scottish Women’s Aid chief executive Dr Marsha Scott.
She said: “The evidence is clear – relying on a patchwork of funding destabilises and demoralises these critical services.
READ MORE: Increase in domestic abuse incidents in Scotland with nearly 63,000 recorded
“Scotland’s domestic abuse survivors need stable, sustainable core funding that eliminates the postcode lottery for services. Minimum funding for core services needs to be protected in law, to shield services both from local cuts and from political winds of change.
“Change at the margins in the form of short-term fixes at national or local levels is not going to be enough.”
Recorded incidents of domestic abuse were higher on a Saturday or Sunday than on any other day of the week, with these two days together accounting for just over a third of incidents during the period, which also covers the introduction of new laws criminalising coercive and controlling behaviour.
However, common assault was the most frequently recorded offence.
According to the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey, just 11% of women disclose experiences of abuse to police and so the statistics are thought to represent just a fraction of the true scale of the problem. And there are concerns that next year’s report, which will cover the national and local lockdowns of 2020, will reveal an even steeper rise in violence.
Scott says domestic abuse must be seen as “the single biggest human rights violation in Scotland”, adding: “We know that lockdown and restrictions on movement offered powerful tools to abusers to control and coerce and reduced victim-survivors’ access to help and support, so next year’s data are likely to be even more concerning.”
Justice Secretary Keith Brown urged all victims so seek support, saying: “we want to see all incidents of domestic abuse reported".
Brown stated: “These statistics are a stark reminder of the unacceptable levels of domestic abuse that occur in Scotland. A person’s home should be a place of safety.”
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is open to provide support and advice 24/7 on freephone 0800 027 1234.
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