Reports rise in domestic abuse, sexual and hate crime

MORE people are reporting domestic abuse, sexual crime and hate crime in Dumfries and Galloway, the region’s police chief has revealed.

New figures show domestic abuse incidents are up 24 percent on the five-year average, with 1869 cases recorded.

Sexual crime has risen 17 percent to 582 recorded crimes, including 84 crimes of rape — also a 17 percent increase.

Meanwhile, hate crime is up 28 percent, with 210 cases recorded.

Chief Superintendent Claire Dobson presented a report on crimes and police activity across the region between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026 to councillors last week.

On domestic abuse, she said: “There’s no doubt that domestic abuse is a real priority right across the public sector. We’ve got forums that we use to manage and target offenders, as well as ensure there’s safety and support for victims.”

She explained that victims often don’t come forward straight away and said: “Often it can take a while for victims to find the courage to make the report. Therefore the increase in reporting shows an increase in confidence, which I would definitely say is positive.”

She also revealed the number of Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme requests — to check if a partner has a history of abuse — rose from 54 to 70 in a year.

Turning to sexual crime, Commander Dobson said better training and ways of working are helping.

She explained: “Increased training and improved practices have undoubtedly provided a much more cohesive and collaborative approach to managing this crime, and undoubtedly it will bring more support for, and contact with, victims and continue to build that confidence to report.”

It was also announced that a new Sexual Harm Strategy will launch in July. It has been “supported and developed in collaboration with partners across Dumfries and Galloway” and includes training, education, awareness and prevention work.

On hate crime, it was revealed almost half the cases involve comments made to police, often during arrests. She said: “Of the total number of reported crimes, 41 per cent were actually to police officers and inappropriate comments made to them during arrest.

“There aren’t any obvious patterns, repeat victims or concerns highlighted, and we’re really robust in our investigation of this crime.”