Scotland’s Chief Statistician has recently published findings of the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2012/13 relating to partner abuse.
The definition of partner abuse applied in the survey is in line with the definition adopted by the police in recording domestic abuse:
‘…any form of physical, non-physical or sexual abuse, which takes place within the context of a close relationship, committed either in the home or elsewhere. This relationship will be between partners (married, cohabiting or otherwise) or ex-partners.’
The figures show that in the last 12 months, the reported experience of partner abuse remained similar to that identified in previous surveys; 3% of adults experienced either psychological or physical partner abuse.
The survey reveals that the prevalence of partner abuse experienced within the last 12 months was equal for men and women (3%), however women were more likely than men to report partner abuse since the age of 16, with 17% of women reporting abuse since the age of 16, compared to 10% of men.
The risk of experiencing partner abuse varies by a number of key demographics:
- The risk of partner abuse in the last 12 months decreases with age, from 5% for 16 to 24-year-olds to less than 1% for those aged 65 and over.
- Respondents living within the most deprived areas of Scotland were more likely (6%) than those living in the rest of Scotland (2%) to report experiences of partner abuse in the last 12 months.
- Similarly, those who reported that they had experienced other forms of crime were more likely than those who had not to have experienced partner abuse in the last 12 months (6% compared to 2%).
The figures follow Police Scotland’s announcement of the first meeting of the Clare’s Law Disclosure Scheme pilot in Scotland, which will improve the ability of police and prosecutors to keep people safe.
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