Prevalence

Analysing the prevalence of VAWG offences across Scotland and the UK is challenging. VAWG is not a distinct crime group, and instead incorporates various elements of other crime categories. Another challenge comes from the fact that historically – and even currently – many crime statistics are not reported by the gender of the victim.

There is however an improving picture in relation to the availability of VAWG data, with relevant areas set out below that provide an insight into the extent of this violence in Scotland and how this compares to England and Wales, using the most recent figures available in each area. The Authority recognises that there are other
areas not yet reported by gender, and that the prevalence of VAWG in our society is therefore likely to be under-reported in published statistics.

Despite an overall decrease in the Group 2 sexual crime category as a whole, Police Scotland notes that rape of a female over 16 has had a notable increase and is now at the highest level of reporting over the last six years.

Seven of the homicides in 2022-23 were categorised as domestic homicides, and six of these victims were female (86%). Of the victims, more females than males were killed by hitting and kicking, and by blunt
instrument. Males were more likely to be killed by sharp instrument or shooting than females.

Of the 13 female homicide victims in 2022-23, the main person accused in 46% of cases was a partner or ex-partner, while 31% were a friend or social acquaintance. The comparative figures for males were 5% partner or ex-partner and 23% friend or social acquaintance. For seven male victims (18%) the main accused person was a stranger not known to them, while only one female victim fell into this category (8%). This illustrates that female homicide victims are far more likely to know their killer, and often know them well.

Where the main motive for homicide was known, the highest category for female victims was rage or fury (3 victims; 23%), whereas the highest for males was a fight or quarrel (10 victims; 26%) followed by a feud or faction rivalry (8 victims; 21%). Only one female victim’s case was related to a fight or feud (8%). The main motive in one case with a female victim was sexual (8%), with no male victims falling into this category.

The Femicide Census specifically focuses on women who have been killed by men in the UK each year. The data in the 2020 report provides insight into the deaths of 110 women, noting that this means that, on average, one woman was killed by a man every 3 days in the UK. This decreases to every 45 days in Scotland.

The 2020 census shows that women are significantly more likely to be killed by a current or former partner (52%) than by a stranger (8%). It also reports that there was a known history of violence and abuse by the
perpetrator of the victim in 43 cases (48%), and 42 perpetrators (53%) were known to have previous histories of violence against women.