A Women’s Aid trainer wants to reinforce the message that abuse is not always physical, as statistics show almost 100 domestic abuse offences have been recorded in Ayrshire since a new law was passed.

Following the introduction last year of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 on April 1, 99 offences were recorded across the region with 92 involving female victims and seven males.

The act created a single offence covering the full range of abusive behaviours including physical, psychological, financial and sexual abuse.

Sarah Millar, training worker at South Ayrshire Women’s Aid, said: “The main focus is to get the message out there about what coercive control is.

“Victims can sometimes wait for a physical form of violence before identifying it as domestic abuse.

“The new law makes them aware that controlling behaviour is abusive and illegal.”

Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain, divisional commander of Ayrshire, said: “We know that private and virtual spaces are not safe places for everyone and I would appeal to anyone who feels that they or someone they know might be at risk, to please get in touch.”

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