More than 30,000 domestic abuse charges were reported to prosecutors between April 2023 and March 2024, figures show.
According to statistics from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), 30,100 charges were reported during the period, compared with 31,139 the previous year, a decrease of 0.1%.
The report, Domestic Abuse and Stalking Charges in Scotland, said 93% of the charges were taken to court.
The number of charges prosecuted at a solemn level in front of a jury at a sheriff or high court was up at 42%, which COPFS says is the highest level since the legislation came into effect on April 1 2019.
Where a case is prosecuted at solemn level, the range of sentencing options available to the court is much greater and can extend beyond one year in prison.
The figures showed that 1,831 charges were reported under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, including offences where women have been subjected to coercive and controlling behaviour by men.
In 2023-24, 859 stalking charges were reported to COPFS with 456 (53%) of these identified as relating to domestic abuse.
Scotland’s solicitor general, Ruth Charteris KC, has vowed to continue tackling such crimes.
She said: “Prosecutors recognise domestic abuse as a scourge on our society, to be tackled with every means at our disposal.
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“Ongoing prosecutions are now addressing acts of coercive control that were once hard to prosecute, thanks to legislation that has exposed these behaviours.
“Behaviours such as controlling what clothing or make-up the victim can wear, restricting their movements, and preventing them from seeing loved ones are now recognised as domestic abuse.
“In some cases, the perpetrator will closely monitor the victim’s activities, movements, and communications.”
She added: “We understand that robust and effective prosecution is crucial, along with the work of our justice partners, to building safer lives for victims, their children and all in our communities.
“I would urge every victim of domestic abuse not to suffer in silence but to report it.
“You will be listened to and supported as we seek to secure justice.”
The figures showed that the Tayside, Central and Fife region ranked highest for the total number of charges (6,563), with Lothian and the Borders taking second place (5,304).
The report also broke regional areas down into towns and cities, with Glasgow ranking as the capital of abuse charges at 4,695.
The majority of charges were brought against men, with 25,825 (86%) of cases reported where the accused were male.
The majority of those reported with a charge with a domestic offence identifier in 2023-24 were aged 31-40 years (36%), and those aged 21-30 years ranked second (26%).
Emma Forbes, procurator fiscal for domestic abuse, said: “COPFS recognises the devastating impact domestic abuse can have on those affected and takes a rigorous approach to prosecuting those responsible.
“These new figures show that COPFS takes action in the vast majority of cases.
“Domestic abuse laws continue to help us capture patterns of abusive behaviour including coercive control.
“Working closely with partner agencies, we are committed to improving victims’ experiences of justice by prosecuting these crimes as effectively and fairly as possible.”
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