Domestic abuse cases on rise in Highlands
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LEVELS of domestic abuse reported to police have risen across the Highlands in the past year.
Figures released by the Scottish Government this week show that recorded incidents in the region rose by three per cent from 2014-15 to 2015-16 – up from 2247 to 2312.
That's against an average national drop of the same proportion and at a time when local lifeline services are reporting they are under significant strain.
As The Inverness Courier reported recently, Inverness Women's Aid domestic abuse centre has reached capacity and staff are having to put domestic abuse victims on a waiting list for beds.
Although they also provide support via a 24/7 helpline, with the festive season fast approaching staff said they are fearing the worst.
There are also worries about how secure funding is, given growing pressures on the public purse.
Inverness Women's Aid director Jackie Hendry made a call for more support for domestic abuse victims at the SNP conference in Glasgow recently.
Reacting to this week's figures she said: "A three per cent drop nationally, on the surface, seems encouraging.
"However, this is a very small figure and we must note that these are reported cases – there are many more cases that go unreported, for reasons such as fear of repercussions, women protecting their children, fear of having to face the ordeal of going to court and reliving their experiences, and fear of not being believed.
"I would want to see a continued fall over a few years before believing there has been a real improvement.
"In the Highlands, domestic abuse occurs in the city and towns, but to a large extent in our rural communities as well, where it is often harder to leave.
"It is challenging to pinpoint whether the rise is due to more incidents or more confidence in reporting the incidents."
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant called the national fall in reported incidents "a move in the right direction" but said more still has to be done.
She called the Highlands figures disappointing and said work has to be done on establishing the precise reasons for the increase.
"To that end I am writing to Police Scotland to find out if they have identified the reason for this jump in the number of reported incidents," she said, adding that Women's Aid was having "to swim against the tide" of rising demand and cuts in funding.
She added: "In the central belt they have special Domestic Abuse Courts, something I have been advocating should happen up here across the constituency.
"I have written to the government on this matter, particularly with a new justice centre coming to Inverness.
"If we had these specially convened Domestic Abuse Courts, then we would have all the right professionals at the court to support victims."
