A HUGE spike in the number of non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by Police Scotland is partly down to new domestic abuse laws, the Scottish Government has said.

According to the latest Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics, the figure soared by 16% in 2019-2020, up from 8008 to 9316.

Of these, 1681 were crimes under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.

The legislation, which has been in force for a year, created a new offence of abusive conduct towards a partner or ex-partner, making it easier for psychological and emotional abuse to be prosecuted. 

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said the figures showed that victims of domestic abuse had "confidence in the collective actions of Scotland's police and wider justice and third sector partners".

Overall, the total number of crimes recorded during 2019/20 remained almost unchanged from the previous year, increasing by less than 1% to 246,516.

Meanwhile, Crimes of dishonesty decreased by 3%, from 114,506 to 111,409, the lowest recorded level since 1971.

Fire-raising and vandalism crimes decreased by 1% from 47,997 the previous year to 47,731.

The report also revealed that the clear up rate for sexual crimes has fallen to its lowest level since 1979.

Clear up rates decreased in all categories of sexual crime  with the exception of rape and attempted rape, which increased by 0.3%.

The clear up rate for crimes associated with prostitution fell from 86.8% to 76.2%.

However, as a whole, the number of sexual crimes in Scotland has fallen. 

The Scottish Government publication showed sexual crimes had dropped by 1% from 13,547 to 13,364, the first time there has been a decrease since 2008/09.

The report said: "Sexual crimes have been on a long-term upward trend since 1974, with some fluctuations.

"Prior to the small decrease in 2019-20, there had been increases each year since 2008-09."

The recorded crime statistics measures crimes which have come to the attention of the police as opposed to overall crimes experienced by the population. 

The figures - released on Tuesday morning - only cover the beginning of the restrictions brought in as part of the Coronavirus Act.

Deputy chief constable Fiona Taylor said: "Police officers and staff work with commitment and a dedication to public service to build and maintain our peaceful and respectful way of life. Scotland remains a safe place to live and work.

"Our national, specialist resources support local policing to investigate thoroughly all allegations of criminality whether in the public, private or virtual space.

"We will continue to identify victims of sexual crime proactively, including complex, online and non-recent offending, and work with partners to encourage survivors to come forward."

Scottish LibDem justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP commented said the those living with abusive partners should have confidence that the psychological and emotional abuse they were suffering was a crime.

He added: "Experts have warned of a heightened risk of harm during this pandemic so the Scottish Government must ensure that support services have the resources they need to help people without delay.

“The last thing victims need is to get inundated with paperwork to prove they are homeless or to be left to fend for themselves in finding a new place."

Scottish Tory justice spokesman, Liam Kerr said: “Violent crime has soared under the SNP’s soft-touch justice system, and these new figures show no sign of that changing.

"Victims have been let down repeatedly and our police officers are not receiving the backing and resources they need from the SNP government."