Almost four incidents of domestic abuse are reported in Angus every day, according to a new report.
Results of Police Scotland’s public protection and safety work were presented to councillors on the local authority’s scrutiny and audit committee in Forfar.
Councillors heard violence and anti-social behaviour indoors are a focus for Chief Inspector David McIntosh, the Area Commander for Angus, and his officers.
The most recent statistics revealed that 683 incidents of domestic abuse were reported to police between April and September last year – 4.5 per day.
And the same period this year saw 588 incidents — 3.92.
The meeting heard the number had dropped but Angus is recording more than its statistical share of such incidents across Scotland.
Montrose councillor Bill Duff queried the figures with Operations Superintendent Graeme Murdoch and Mr McIntosh, who were present at the meeting.
“You mentioned domestic abuse and there is a figure of 683 or about four a day, which does give you a sense of the size of the issue,” he said.
Superintendent Murdoch replied: “In terms of public protection, we are not complacent.
“The number of assaults is down but they are significantly higher than we’d like to see for an area like Angus.
“We’re probably higher than comparable areas across the country, so that’s very much a focus for David and his team.
“Our issues with violence are by and large indoor violence.
“It’s domestic violence which is a problem that does not go away.
“And in terms of assaults, these are largely between people who know each other, or at party flats, and it’s taking place indoors.”
The meeting heard there has been a 14.6% overall reduction in total violent crime but domestic incidents have more than doubled in the last five years.
There has been a 12.1% decrease in serious assaults, from 33 incidents to 29, and the number of petty assaults has dropped by 14.8% compared with the same period the previous year.
The report’s authors state the majority of petty assaults in Angus occur indoors with alcohol being a “contributory factor”.
Mr Murdoch added: “Licenced premises and public space are really well managed in Angus and pose fewer issues.
“Our focus is that private space, antisocial, behaviour and violence.”
