News Story

Scotland’s most senior prosecutor has pledged a “robust” response to domestic abuse, as she described an increase in such charges as “concerning”.

Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris KC was speaking in the wake of figures showing 34,586 domestic abuse charges were reported to prosecutors in 2025-26.

That was the highest since 2014-15, with an increase of 14% from 2024-25.

Offences which included a “domestic abuse identifier” included bail offences, threatening and abusive behaviour, and cases of common assault.

But they also included 11 charges of murder or culpable homicide up from six in 2024-25 and 817 cases where there was a charge of either serious assault or attempted murder, which was up from 568.

Charges of rape and attempted rape also rose, from 635 in 2024-25 to 885 in 2025-26.

There were 2,815 charges brought under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act of 2018 legislation which created a statutory offence of engaging in an abusive course of behaviour against a partner or former partner.

The number of charges brought under the Act was up 39% in 2025-26, the data shows, from 2,028 the previous year.

Of 1,000 stalking charges reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in the last year, almost half 458 were identified as being domestic abuse.

Ms Charteris insisted action on prevention is needed if Scotland is to “reduce this harm in the future”.

The Lord Advocate said she is “acutely aware that every one of the 34,586 charges received by COPFS reflects the suffering of a victim in the overwhelming majority of cases, a woman harmed by a man”.

She added: “It is concerning for all of us that the number of reports has increased, particularly those involving some of the most serious offending.

“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.”

While she was clear that “prevention is vital if Scotland is to reduce this harm in the future” she also stressed “there are victims who need the protection of the law today”.

Here, the Lord Advocate pledged: “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.”

She said abuse victims “should be assured they will be listened to and taken seriously by prosecutors”, and that “they will be supported through the legal process”.

Ms Charteris promised: “Using prosecution to protect victims, prevent further harm and hold abusers to account will be a guiding principle during my time as Lord Advocate.”

First Minister John Swinney last week pledged to “provide the personal leadership to tackle violence against women and girls”.

His Programme for Government statement to Holyrood vowed to “make early progress” with the introduction of a Misogyny Bill, coupled with action on the “postcode lottery” of services for victims, and multi-year support for organisations working to help them.

Justice Secretary Neil Grey said the Programme for Government had set out a range of actions “to help prevent abuse, support those affected and hold perpetrators to account”.

Mr Gray added: “Violence against women and girls is abhorrent. While any increase is concerning, it is important that women feel able to turn to the justice system and that perpetrators are robustly held to account.

“The increased number of reports under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 shows the legislation is being used to tackle abusive behaviour, while the increased number of cases progressing through the courts shows that men who inflict violence and abuse can be held to account and face the consequences of the law.”

Labour justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said the “extremely concerning” figures makes it “clear that violence against women is reaching a crisis point”.

She added: “Women are being failed even after abusers are known to the justice system. Frankly, this SNP Government is failing to take the measures that would keep women safe.

“The promised sexual offences court is still not in place and there has been no clarity on when GPS tracking of violent offenders on bail will be rolled out.

“We need an end to the SNP’s soft-touch approach to justice, along with a boost to visible community policing.

“We also require action to tackle the root causes of the epidemic of violence against women, including working with boys and young men to confront violent and misogynistic attitudes.”