An average of 12 domestic abuse incidents were reported in Fife every day, new figures have shown.
Despite a number of agencies working together to improve the experiences of women affected by abuse, it is thought the numbers are likely to rise again this year with the introduction of new legislation.
The Fife Violence Against Women Partnership’s annual report for 2018/19 has revealed Police Scotland recorded 4,436 domestic abuse incidents last year, up sharply from the 4,418 recorded a year previously, while the number of homeless applications due to domestic abuse has also continued to rise from around 220 last year to 253 in 2018/19.
Other agencies are also having to cope with large number of referrals relating to domestic abuse, such as Fife Women’s Aid which received 1,424 referrals to services for woman aged 16 and over, and Shakti Women’s Aid, which supported 42 women in the course of last year.
Thirty-eight of those were primarily due to domestic abuse, but there was one case of female genital mutilation and three forced marriages.
The report provides a snapshot of the challenges facing a number of authorities in their field, and Councillor Judy Hamilton, who chairs the Women’s Health Improvement Research (WHIR) Project, has been encouraged by the progress of groups tasked with improving staff training, exploring legal issues and improving housing options for women who have experienced domestic and/or sexual abuse.
She said: “While this project is led by women, we recognise domestic abuse services should not be, and are not exclusively, for women.
“However, research shows us that it’s generally women and children who leave the family home following domestic abuse.
“Women need to have better options, better support and advice when it comes to improving their situation, and it’s great to see the work we’re doing making a difference.”
Over the past two years the WHIR project has focused on increasing options open to women, with the emphasis on keeping vulnerable women and children safe.
Mrs Hamilton added: “We are continuing to work with a group of amazing women who have experienced domestic abuse and are helping guide the work we are doing.”
Kathy Henwood, chairwoman of the Fife Violence Against Women Partnership, said the fact coercive control is now seen as a crime – with the presence of children as an aggravator to the offence – would likely see numbers rise further still.
Pressure is still being put on voluntary sexual abuse agencies, according to the report, with the Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (FRASAC) seeing its new referral numbers rise to an unprecedented 279 earlier this week, and the Kingdom Abuse Survivor’s Project (KASP) seeing its new referral tally more than quadruple from 54 to 231 in the last 12 months.
“Data is not directly comparable with previous years, but it is clear that third sector partners have continued to struggle with waiting lists, providing thousands of hours of support to survivors to help them cope with their experiences of abuse and violence,” Ms Henwood said.
“Some additional resources have been secured, and the agencies are finding ways to support as many survivors as possible.”
