JOHN FORSYTH and CAROLYN CHURCHILL Men are more likely to be on the receiving end of domestic abuse by a female partner on Old Firm match weekends than during other weekends of the year, according to new figures.
The total number of reported incidents of domestic abuse increases by 41% when Rangers and Celtic play each other. It has previously been thought that alcohol-fuelled aggression may be leading men to take their anger out on their partners, but new statistics from Strathclyde Police show that men are also increasingly the victims.
Between one in five and one in six of all incidents of domestic abuse recorded on Old Firm match weekends are men on the receiving end of female abuse, compared with an average of one in eight reported in the police force area in 2007/08.
The figures show that the number of reports made after the CIS Cup Final on March 15 were significantly higher than the average throughout the year. They were taken along with incidents recorded by police in the wake of the Old Firm matches on February 15 and December 27.
Overall, statistics obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that in the 11 months from April 2008, Strathclyde Police recorded 3759 incidents where men were noted as primary victims - an increase of 27% over the same period the previous year.
The number of women recorded as primary victims of male abuse was up 11% over the same period at 20,055. The figure for female perpetrator/female victim in same-sex relationships had jumped by 46% from 228 to 326 and male perpetrator/male victim rose 14.7% from 224 to 257.
SNP MSP John Wilson yesterday called for the Scottish Government to review its approach to domestic violence to ensure that specific services were available for male victims.
He said: "I'm calling on the government to investigate the reality of domestic abuse and all kinds of violence in our communities.
"Governments shouldn't be in the position of ignoring the painful experience of thousands of our citizens in the name of an ideology that doesn't want to know that all violence is the problem. I've been unhappy for many years that the zero-tolerance campaign targets one part of the problem of violence only.
"What does that do for children who witness the behaviour of an abusive mother but discover that's not supposed to happen? A truly reflective zero-tolerance campaign should incorporate all violence."
New figures unveiled today by Strathclyde Police show that 173 incidents of domestic abuse are reported on Old Firm match days, compared with 123 on other days.
Meanwhile, the number of calls to the Scottish Domestic Abuse helpline fell 14.5% to 15,080 in 2008. Volunteers manning the 24-hour free helpline made almost 6000 calls to other services themselves to try to help abuse victims, arranging GP appointments, making enquiries about emergency housing and contacting legal services or local police forces.
Responding to the calls for more services for male victims, a Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government, along with key partners, is continually considering what resources are required to support all victims of domestic abuse.
"New research is in fact under way in this area."
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