Incidents of domestic abuse in Scotland have risen by four per cent in the last recorded year - the fourth year in a row.

According to new Scottish Government data, officers from Police Scotland recorded 62,907 domestic abuse incidents throughout 2019-20.

Common assault was the most frequently recorded crime or offence during the period where statistics were gathered.

It accounted for 34 per cent of all crimes or offences.

Breach of the peace was second on the list, it accounting for 26 per cent of incidents in 19-20.

In that time period, 40 per cent of all domestic abuse incidents by cops included the recording of at least one crime or offence committed.

Around 88 per cent of the more than 62,000 incidents occurred in a home or a dwelling.

The majority of the recorded domestic abuse incidents took place over the weekend, with Saturday and Sunday accounting for over 34 per cent of all incidents.

Four out of five victims of abuse were female which equates to 83 per cent of all cases.

There were 115 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by cops per 100,000 population.

Which council area has the worst rate?

Dundee City, Clackmannanshire, Glasgow City, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, Falkirk, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, West Lothian, East Ayrshire, Fife, Inverclyde, East Lothian and South Ayrshire were all above the Scottish average.

Dundee City (166), Clackmannanshire (152) and Glasgow City (151) were the three highest council areas in the country.

Here is the local authority breakdown:

Council area breakdown per 100,000

Aberdeen City - 112

Aberdeenshire -66

Angus - 101

Argyll & Bute - 80

Clackmannanshire - 152

Dumfries & Galloway - 94

Dundee City - 166

East Ayrshire - 125

East Dunbartonshire - 58

East Lothian - 117

East Renfrewshire - 58

Edinburgh City - 106

Falkirk - 132

Fife - 123

Glasgow City - 151

Highland - 101

Inverclyde - 120

Midlothian - 130

Moray - 86

Na h-Eileanan Siar - 50

North Ayrshire - 129

North Lanarkshire- 141

Orkney Islands - 53

Perth & Kinross - 82

Renfrewshire - 126

Scottish Borders - 100

Shetland Islands - 57

South Ayrshire - 117

South Lanarkshire - 113

Stirling - 81

West Dunbartonshire - 150

West Lothian - 126

Justice Secretary Keith Brown said: "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 and we know that is not always the case and that women are disproportionately victims of domestic abuse.

“The new offence of domestic abuse has been heralded as gold-standard legislation in strengthening the law against those who undertake a course of abusive behaviour, including both physical and psychological abuse, and we have been clear that we want to see all incidents of domestic abuse reported.

“Last year we provided more than £5.75 million in additional funding for frontline services supporting women and children experiencing, or at risk of, violence or abuse, to help respond to an increase in demand during the pandemic.

“We welcome any indication that more people are coming forward to access justice and we continue to encourage all those who experience domestic abuse to report it and seek support.”

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