How many people were reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in each year since 2012-13 for a suspected domestic abuse-r…

Domestic abuse continues to be a significant issue in Scotland and prosecutors dealt with over 36,500 charges reported by Police Scotland in the year 2014-15. The Scottish Government is committed to tackling the scourge of domestic abuse and robust and effective enforcement and prosecution play a key part in that.
The tables below provide the relevant statistical data requested from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Government in relation to domestic abuse charges reported, criminal proceedings raised and conviction and disposal information following the raising of court proceedings.
The information provided demonstrates that domestic abuse is still overwhelmingly a gendered area of criminality with women very significantly and disproportionally affected as victims. The Scottish Government, working with partners through the Equally Safe strategy, is committed to addressing this inequality and to preventing domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls.
Table 1 provides the number of charges with a domestic abuse aggravator reported to COPFS in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, split by gender of the accused.
It also provides the number of these charges where the initial decision was to take no action and the number where the initial decision was to take court proceedings. A breakdown of these figures according to whether the accused is a repeat offender is not available.
Table 1: Domestic abuse charges reported to COPFS, 2012-13 to 2014-15

Total charges reported to COPFS
Of which, initial decision on how to proceed

No action
Court

2012-13

All
27,101
4,717
20,902

Male
22,714
3,452
18,315

Female
4,370
1,265
2,587

Not recorded
17
0
0

2013-14

All
36,552
3,974
31,179

Male
30,980
2,862
27,105

Female
5,572
1,112
4,074

2014-15

All
36,667
3,900
31,373

Male
31,133
2,803
27,402

Female
5,534
1,097
3,971

Notes:
(1) COPFS published statistical data is based on charges reported rather than on numbers of cases or people.
(2) Information on gender is not available for a small number of cases.
(3) The information is based on already published information, and reflects the position at the time the figures for each year were compiled.
(4) At the time the figures for each year were compiled, no decision had been made on how to proceed for some charges.
(5) Some charges are dealt with other than by prosecution in court (e.g. by direct measures).
The following tables provide the further information requested although data for 2014-15 is not yet available.
It should be noted that criminal proceedings data are not held in a way which allows a breakdown for the individual requirements for community disposals. Separate community payback order data collection managed by Scottish Government does include information on the requirements, but not on offence type or aggravator attached.
Table 2 shows the number of individuals proceeded against for a crime/offence with a domestic abuse aggravator between 2012-13 and 2013-14, broken down by gender and main result.
Table 2: People proceeded against for an offence with a domestic abuse aggravator recorded1 by sex and main result, 2012-13 and 2013-14

Main result of proceedings
Financial year
2012-13
2013-14
Male
Plea not guilty accepted (PNGA) or deserted
627
831

Acquitted not guilty
655
1,099

Acquitted not proven
97
176

Charge proved
8,176
9,688

All
9,555
11,794
Female
PNGA or deserted
118
181

Acquitted not guilty
107
205

Acquitted not proven
14
26

Charge proved
1,114
1,384

All
1,353
1,796
All

10,908
13,590
1. Where main offence
Table 3 shows the number of individuals convicted of a crime/offence with a domestic abuse aggravator between 2012-13 and 2013-14, broken down by gender and disposal.
Table 3: People with a charge proved for an offence with a domestic abuse aggravator recorded1