POLICE have recorded more than 1300 cases of domestic abuse since new laws covering coercive and controlling behaviour were introduced, the force has said.
The Domestic Abuse Act came into effect in Scotland in April 2019, making emotional and psychological abuse an offence for the first time.
Since the law change, which created a single offence for abusive behaviour, 1313 incidents were recorded by Police Scotland between April and December. Women were the victims in 1234 of the cases, with men the victims in the remaining 79 incidents.
Although the figures do not record how many people have been prosecuted, Nicola Sturgeon told a Holyrood committee in November that 13 people had been convicted.
The Scottish Government’s legislation targeted abusers who control their victims by isolating them from their friends and family, or restrict their finances.
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