Domestic abuse charges up by 14 per cent

There has been a significant increase in domestic abuse charges in the last year, new figures show.

Over 34,500 charges with a domestic abuse identifier were reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in 2025-26 – a 14 per cent increase from the year before.

The lord advocate has insisted that “perpetrators will face the consequences of their actions” as she pledged to make protecting women and girls a priority.

The latest COPFS figures represent the highest number of domestic abuse charges since 2014-15.

The 2025-26 statistics also found that the majority led to prosecution, with an initial decision to proceed to court made in 91 per cent of charges.

In most domestic abuse cases, the perpetrators are male and the victims female.

The most common types of offence with a domestic abuse identifier were crimes against public justice, threatening and abusive behaviour, and common assault.

The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act, which came into force in 2019, created a statutory offence relating to abusive behaviour for the first time. There was a 39 per cent increase in the number of charges reported under this legislation from the year before, totalling 2,815.

Ruth Charteris KC, who heads up COPFS as lord advocate, said the increase in the number of charges was “concerning”.

She said: “Scotland must change. Ending domestic abuse in our communities is an issue for each of us to address every day, challenging harmful attitudes and behaviours wherever we see them.

“Prevention is vital if Scotland is to reduce this harm in the future, but there are victims who need the protection of the law today. Where men are abusing victims now, the justice system must respond firmly and hold that behaviour to account.

“Perpetrators will face the consequences of their actions through robust prosecution that reflects the nature and seriousness of their offending. Victims should be assured they will be listened to and taken seriously by prosecutors; their experiences will be recognised; they will be supported through the legal process.

“Using prosecution to protect victims, prevent further harm and hold abusers to account will be a guiding principle during my time as lord advocate.”

COPFS also published stalking charges, of which there were 1,000 in 2025-26. Of these, 46 per cent were identified as domestic abuse.