INCIDENTS of domestic abuse across the west of Scotland soared after the weekend's Old Firm clash, with a hike to more than double the level of an average Sunday.
Figures unveiled last night show that the number of domestic abuse incidents reported to Strathclyde Police was also a third higher than most Sundays when Rangers play Celtic.
The disturbing spike comes despite warnings from the police and prosecutors on Saturday that domestic abuse would not be tolerated around Sunday’s Old Firm match.
Officers also warned they would be knocking on the doors of some 400 known perpetrators of domestic abuse over the weekend to warn them against violence and pursue outstanding warrants for minor offences.
Strathclyde Police yesterday said that despite repeated attempts to stamp out Old Firm domestic abuse, the fixture was still linked to worrying levels of violence.
A police spokesman said: “This is not just a set of statistics about crime in the west of Scotland on an Old Firm weekend. Behind every one of the numbers is a victim, a family and a community blighted by the violence that, sadly, is still attaching itself to this fixture.
“This was exactly why we called for the formation of the Joint Action Group back in March. It wasn’t because of the behaviour of the players on the pitch or the managers on the touchline. It was because we felt that something had to be done to tackle the unacceptable levels of violence that, unfortunately, we have seen again this weekend.
“We will continue to work with our partners in Government and in football to find solutions that will make a difference.”
According to the force, there were 142 reported incidents of spousal abuse on Sunday, compared to an average of 67.
The figures are all the more alarming when compared with an Old Firm day average for domestic abuse reports, which is 107.
The weekend’s reports indicate a rise of 112% when compared against the number of complaints received by police on an average Sunday over the past seven-and-a-half years.
Scottish Women’s Aid said it was “dismayed” by the rise but added that it could be a result of more victims feeling able to report abuse to the police.
A spokeswoman for the charity said: “We are supportive of the pro-active approach taken by Strathclyde Police and the procurator fiscal in dealing with domestic abuse.
“We also hope that the extensive publicity generated in advance of the match instilled confidence in those experiencing domestic abuse to report this to the police.”
Mhairi McGowan, from Assist Glasgow, the advocacy and support service for victims of domestic abuse, said: “For the first time in our seven-year history we have had to tell the courts that we have been unable, due to volume of people referred to us, to give them the information they need prior to court starting this afternoon. Never before has that been the case.
“However, I also have to say that I am very pleased that so many people have come forward and reported domestic abuse incidents to the police, and that is a positive.”
Despite the rise in domestic abuse cases, there was a notable dip in the number of serious assaults, with 18 recorded on Sunday against an average of eight. The average on an Old Firm Sunday is 23.
The police spokesman added that it is unclear at this stage how many people were arrested as a result of the callouts.
Twenty people were arrested at the game, either inside or around Ibrox stadium. Five of them were for alleged offences of a sectarian nature, while the others were for offences ranging from drunkenness to breach of the peace.
A Crown Office spokesman added: “We would urge anyone suffering from domestic abuse to come forward and report it, and we can assure you that your case will be dealt with sensitively and according to the particular circumstances.
“We would like to reassure the public that we take crimes of domestic abuse, whether it is physical or emotional, extremely seriously.”
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