Scotland experienced a dramatic rise in domestic abuse reports during lockdown, new figures have revealed.
Crimestoppers recorded an 81% increase in contacts concerning those as risk of abuse in the home, while doorstep crime calls shot up by 30% and drug dealing reports rose by 40%.
Visits to the Crimestoppers website also trebled in April.
Angela Parker, national manager for Crimestoppers Scotland, described the last three months as “very challenging for people across Scotland”.
She added: “As a charity, we needed to raise awareness of the risks and harm the most vulnerable in communities would experience during lockdown.
“Often people know or suspect who’s responsible but for whatever reason, don’t want to speak to the police or get involved.
“We are so encouraged and grateful for the people who trusted our 100% anonymous guarantee and told us about those at risk.”
The charity also received a number of reports from the concerned friends and neighbours of families in which children were “at risk” – one anonymous report highlighted an instance of neglect where a child was constantly crying in pain.
Community Safety Minister Ash Denham MSP said the Scottish Government was “committed to ensuring communities remain safe and resilient” as Scotland emerges from lockdown.
She added that the Crimestoppers reports “resulted in significant, actionable information about child harm and neglect, drugs and violent crimes from all over the country being passed to Police Scotland”.