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Note: Approximately two thirds of victims are female, which, according to Government of Scotland estimates, amounts to 140,000-plus Scottish women and girls living in fear of domestic violence: Read full report at: 
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 London ~ December 20, 2009
200,000 may suffer abuse ‘in silence’
By Stuart MacDonald
Only one in five cases of domestic violence is reported to the police, according to a new crime survey that suggests up to 200,000 victims may be suffering in silence.
More than 53,000 attacks were investigated last year, 8% up on the previous year, but the study reveals that they represent only a fraction of the true number of cases.
The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey, which questioned 16,000 people, claims just 13% of victims said they had reported abuse against them in the home, and a third party reported a further 8% of cases.
Throwing an object was the most common form of physical abuse recorded in the survey, followed by being kicked, bitten or hit.
Almost a third of victims did not tell anybody about abuse they had suffered in the past year, while 62% confided in a friend or a relative.
The survey also showed that 18% of people had experienced at least one form of domestic abuse since the age of 16. The incidents were most common in the 16-24 age group and 10% of victims had experienced repeated abuse.
The most common reason for not reporting an attack was that it was a private matter. Other reasons were that the victim was too frightened or thought the police would not take the incident seriously.
Levels of domestic violence often rise over Christmas and the new year, and police and the Scottish government are launching a campaign, urging people not to “suffer in silence”.
Detective Chief Inspector Peter McPike, chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland’s domestic abuse working group, said they were using new techniques to help victims to come forward.
“We recognise there are significant levels of under-reporting and there are a number of reasons for that,” he said. “Victims feel they might not be believed or even believe that it might be their fault. There is still a certain stigma attached to domestic abuse and victims often don’t want people to know about it.”
McPike said there was particular concern among gay victims that, if they reported an attack, they might be outed to family, friends and colleagues.
“We have recently launched remote reporting where victims or friends and relatives can report the matter online so the police don’t have to come to the door, and they can arrange to meet police at a time that is suitable and a place that is suitable to them,” he said.
“Victims should not suffer in silence, they are not to blame for this happening and they should seek help and report it to the police.”
The crime survey revealed a similar level of under-reporting among victims of stalkers. Strathclyde police launched the domestic abuse taskforce earlier this year, which targets serial abusers. McPike said it wanted to help victims identify “patterns of abuse” that did not involve physical violence, including stalking behaviour, where victims were followed by partners or constantly contacted by phone or email.
Dedicated sheriffs are able to fast-track proceedings through a special domestic abuse court in Glasgow, and Stephen House, the chief constable of Strathclyde police, wants them to be set up across the country.
“These figures confirm our view that there is gross under-reporting of domestic abuse,” said Heather Coady, of Scottish Women’s Aid.
“For women and children to feel safe, believed and supported, they have to be confident of a good response from the police and prosecution services.
“There is clearly a continuing role here for initiatives such as the specialist domestic abuse court in Glasgow, which plays a key role in supporting and reassuring those coming forward that they can expect protection and justice.”
The Scottish government is launching its festive campaign this week, which will include television and billboard advertisements urging victims to contact the Scottish domestic abuse helpline. Liz Kelly, the head of training at the helpline, said: “Help is available from people who understand what you’re going through, and we’d encourage anybody who is experiencing abuse to call us in confidence. When you’re ready to speak, we’re here to listen.”
Last night, Labour criticised Scottish government plans to scrap sentences of six months or less, claiming 93% of perpetrators of domestic violence would avoid jail.
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