Glasgow was in the top three locations that recorded the highest domestic abuse charges in Scotland last year, according to a report by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

The city and Strathkelvin reported 5179 charges between 2021 and 2022.

It went on to highlight that Airdrie also had 1094 charges, while Hamilton had 2194, Paisley had 1346, and Lanark had 299.

However the two highest locations were Tayside Central and Fife with 7225 charges, along with the Lothian and Borders which had 6263.

The Procurator Fiscal's Office report defined domestic abuse as “any form of physical, verbal, sexual, psychological or financial abuse which might amount to criminal conduct”.

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This must take place within the context of a relationship between partners or ex-partners including married couples, cohabiting pairs, or civil partnerships.

Abuse can be committed in the home or elsewhere including online.

Most of those accused of domestic abuse were men, with 87% of charges being male.

The age of the majority reported with a domestic offense were aged 31-40 or 21-30.

The report found 32,776 charges were reported to the Procurator Fiscal's Office overall in Scotland.

This is a decrease of 1.9% compared to the previous year which saw a total of 33,425.

It is the second highest number of charges reported since 2015-16, but lower than the numbers reported between 2013-14 and 2015-16.

The report said: “Most of the charges reported with a domestic abuse identifier are prosecuted.

“The proportion resulting in court proceedings has increased over recent years and is at its highest level since 2013-14.”

It added: “The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 came into force on 1st April 2019.

“This Act created a new statutory offence of engaging in a course of behaviour which is abusive of a partner or ex-partner.

“A course of behaviour involves behaviour on at least two occasions where a reasonable person would consider this course of behaviour to be likely to cause physical or psychological harm and the person intended to cause or was reckless about causing their partner or ex-partner to suffer physical or psychological harm.

“The new offence only applies to conduct that took place on or after 1 April 2019.”

Glasgow’s Women’s aid is available for help and advice if you or someone you know is suffering from abuse.

You can contact them at getsupport@glasgowwomensaid.org.uk or call the Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline which is available 24/7 on 0800 027 1234.

Glasgow’s Women’s Aid was contacted for comment.