Professor John Robertson OBA
According to Homicide in Scotland 2024-25 and its 4 predecessor reports, there were 67 female victims of murder in the last 5 yrs, 40% down on the previous five up to 2019/2020.1 41% (27) were killed by partners or ex-partners, with the remainder primarily by other male relatives or acquaintances. I see no sign of the 39, above.
The trend in the last 5 years has been flat – 10, 16, 13, 13, 15 suggesting a disappointing bottoming that may not reduce further but not in any way a ‘National Emergency.’
In the last 5 years in England & Wales the equivalent figure is 8322 with no downward trend from the previous five years, unlike in Scotland.
All things being equal, England and Wales might have been expected to have 11 time Scotland’s 67 or 737.
It had 832, 95 more, 12.8% more.
Sources:
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Violence towards women is wrong, as is violence towards any person. It is a welcome sign that increasing numbers of women feel confident in reporting violence against them, with a reasonable expectation that it will be taken seriously, investigated properly and, if sufficient evidence exists, will result in prosecution.
Because women have more rights, such as married women no longer being seen as extensions of their husbands, it is not financially impoverishing to end an abusive relationship. I mention this because it was only in my lifetime that married women were recognized as financially entitled people in their own right. For the first seven years of our marriage all of my wife’s earnings were considered for tax purposes as mine, her national insurance benefits were largely based on my earnings, although her name appeared as joint owner of, for example, our flat, legally, I owned the flat.
There have been great advances in the equality of women in that period which has given them much more autonomy and agency, and these things are to be welcomed. They have increased the confidence of women to stand up for themselves. It has resulted in more women being in positions of power, such as First Minister, Chief Constable.
Sadly, however, women victims of violence are, almost entirely victims of violence perpetrated by men, and, in the case of murder, in just under half, the victims of men whom they knew. Men, especially younger men, are the majority of victims of violence and the violence is almost always by other men. To reduce violence, we men have to look at ourselves to reduce violent impulses. Those of us who are fathers have to encourage our sons to behave in respectful ways towards women.
Many of us have done this and continue to do it and that has to be recognised and acknowledged publicly.
Alasdair Macdonald
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I wonder of it was a last minute attempt to “up” the dramatic effect of the statistic by adding “National Emergency” to the top of article before it went to print.
While in no way attempting to downplay the seriousness of the subject as presented, you cant help noticing the large colour artwork above it, about the challenge of a Sunday Post reporter who is attempting to survive for a week on wartime rationing. This it seems is detailed on pages 2 and 3.
Strange times we live in..
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Abused women do not get legal aid. It can take years and cost £thousands. Those who cohabit (the majority) have to put in a claim within a year (1/3). Women have less rights. They can lose their hone and the roof over their head. Women have to stay in unsafe, abusive situations because they do not get legal aid. It has to be paid back in any case. Abused women have less rights. Money is used as a form of control.
Letting agencies illegally demand 6 months rent + deposit. Even if people (abused women) have good credit.
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4 times more men are killed. Crime is a gender issue. Most crime is committed by men under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Much violent crime committed by younger men.
Knife deaths in London increased by 200 a year because of austerity.
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