SCOTTISH police officers will learn to deal with some of the more “insidious and damaging” forms of domestic abuse thanks to an £825,000 training scheme, the Justice Secretary has said.

Humza Yousaf spoke out as Police Scotland began preparing more than 14,000 officers and staff for the introduction next year of new legislation banning controlling and coercive behaviour.

The force also launched its annual festive-season campaign against domestic abuse. Officers usually respond to a domestic abuse call every nine minutes, but the rate increases around Christmas.

Yousaf said: “Police deal with the damage caused by domestic abuse day in day out, and this training will help to identify some of the more insidious and damaging ways that perpetrators use to control their partner or ex-partner which are covered within the new offence.”