150 DOMESTIC ABUSE ATTACKS EVERY DAY; Cases of violence in the home soar.

Byline: Paul O'Hare

POLICE were called to almost 150 domestic abuse incidents a day across Scotland in the past year.

The number of reports of violence in the home soared by eight per cent to a 53,681. And 61 per cent of victims had been abused before.

The research, compiled by Scotland's chief statistician, revealed 55 per cent of the incidents led to a crime being recorded - up from half in 2007-8. Minor assault accounted for 23 per cent of offences while breach of the peace made up 18 per cent - both slightly up.

The incidence of domestic abuse rose to 1039 per 100,000 population from 965 per 100,000 in 2007-8. Women aged 22 to 25 and men aged 26 to 30 were most at risk. Men were responsible for 84 per cent of attacks.

Co-habitees or partners accounted for 44 per cent of all cases, while spouses made up 16 per cent. In 40 per cent of cases, the victim and perpetrator were ex-partners or ex-spouses.

The vast majority of incidents - 89 per cent - took place in the home, while nearly 40 per cent of incidents happened on a Saturday or Sunday.

Communities minister Alex Neil said the figures reflected a greater willingness to report abuse.

He said: "It is encouraging that police forces are cracking down on these despicable crimes."

The government have pledged more than pounds 44million to tackling the problem through the work of Scottish Women's Aid, the Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline, Rape Crisis Scotland and local rape crisis centres.

Last month the national Violence Reduction Unit launched a six-month blitz on the crime, which it dubbed "Scotland's national shame".

CAPTION(S):

HOPE: Neil