Eastwood MSP, Jackson Carlaw has expressed his concerns after official figures revealed that the number of domestic abuse incidents recorded on an annual basis in East Renfrewshire in 2018/ 19 was nearly 100 higher compared to almost a decade ago.
New data has revealed that 510 domestic abuse cases were recorded in East Renfrewshire in 2018/19 compared to 421 in 2009/10 – a 17 percent increase.
Throughout Scotland, the number of domestic abuse cases rose for the third year in a row to 60,641 - a new all-time high.
The troubling rise in this type of crime both in East Renfrewshire and across Scotland comes at a time when the SNP have said that tackling domestic abuse is a government priority.
However, the SNP have effectively abolished jail sentences of less than a year, which provoked a furious response from domestic abuse charities, who warned most offences that resulted in jail time tended to involve sentences of this length.
Around four in every five domestic abuse cases in Scotland involve a female victim and male perpetrator, and the vast majority occurred in a home setting.
A total of 5,061 domestic violence incidents have occurred within East Renfrewshire over the previous decade.
Jackson Carlaw MSP for Eastwood said:
“It is hugely troubling that domestic violence is on the rise both nationally and locally.
"Nearly 100 more domestic abuse incidents occurred in East Renfrewshire during 2018 /19 compared with almost a decade ago and this is a matter of significant concern.
“Despite the SNP claiming that tackling crimes of this nature is a government priority, it is apparent that police are not being given anywhere near enough resource to address the problem or to ensure that those who have committed a domestic violence offence are appropriately punished.
"The SNP have effectively abolished prison sentences of less than a year and as domestic abuse charities have pointed out this could result in abusers being let straight back into homes.
“It’s clear that the soft touch approach to crime adopted by Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP has been a complete disaster."