Domestic violence is not acceptable in Fife and never will be that is the message from Fife Chief Superintendent Garry McEwan.
He has challenged perpetrators to stop committing these acts and warned if they don’t they will be targeted by police officers and locked up.
While research shows the overall likelihood of becoming a victim of violent crime is falling, one aspect that has shown an increase in Fife over the past year is domestic or private space violence which is up 7.2% to 3,901 incidents.
Mr McEwan said this rise can be attributed to the more “proactive and intrusive manner” in which all such incidents reported to the police are now assessed and investigated.
He said the rise is a direct result of a more focused and determined approach to tackling this issue and emphasised police will continue supporting the victims of these acts, ensuring that they are protected.
Mr McEwan said: “Local organisational changes, including the introduction of a Fife Division Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit (DAIU), have significantly altered the way we deal with and report domestic violence in Fife.
“In this respect the officers within the DAIU are responsible for proactive targeting of domestic abuse perpetrators. This action has revealed a clearer picture of the true extent of such crime.
“Consequently, much of the highlighted increase in offences can be attributed to historic crimes, which have been brought to light by the additional investigative processes introduced within Fife”.
Mr McEwan highlighted how the reporting of one incident can often lead to the detection of others.
He said: “A recent case involving the vicious assault of a female by her then boyfriend led not only to a charge of attempted murder, but was also the catalyst for further proactive investigation into the accused’s past.
“This inquiry resulted in three previous partners being identified and subsequently interviewed. The result of this inquiry was further charges being brought against the male for historic domestic abuse offences.
“The individual concerned was subsequently found guilty in court and is presently remanded in custody awaiting sentencing. This type of retrospective investigation now forms a central part of our domestic abuse investigations”.
Mr McEwan said to enable the police to deal more effectively with the hidden crime of domestic violence, early intervention, prevention and diversion activities are championed at local community policing level.
“This has included the creation of a Private Space Violence Working Group, specifically established to address the identified increase in violence within private-space dwellings.
Likewise, the Fife-wide implementation of multi-agency Safer Communities Groups enables early intervention and coordinated responses in circumstances where antisocial behaviour and violence is linked to particular premises or individuals.
He said a more robust structure around domestic abuse bail conditions had also been established.
He added: “To do this we now proactively inform victims of the bail conditions imposed by the court, and explain what constitutes a breach of these.
“We also provide an enhanced level of reassurance and support to victims. A very impressive 97% of these contacts were made within 24 hours of the offender being released on bail”.
Fife Council leader David Ross said: “Domestic violence is an issue we take very seriously in Fife.
“In this respect, Fife Community Planning Partnership, including Fife Council and Police Scotland, has a range of joint initiatives in place to tackle the causes and impacts of this problem.
“I am very pleased that it is included as a major priority for action in the Fife policing plan.”