Lothian MSP Gordon Lindhurst has raised his concerns after new figures revealed that over 5,700 incidents of domestic abuse were recorded in Edinburgh in 2017-18.
The figures mean that there were 15 incidents every day within the capital.
The 5,722 incidents are a rise of almost 300 from the 5,445 that took place in 2016/17 and come at a time when the SNP Government are planning to abolish jail sentences of less than a year.
This means domestic abusers could be let off the hook leading the Conservative MSP to criticise the SNP Government’s soft-touch approach.
Commenting Gordon Lindhurst MSP said: “People across the capital will be concerned like I am to see the sharp rise in domestic violence incidents, with 15 incidents occurring each day.
“With the SNP’s Programme for Government planning to abolish jail sentences of less than a year, there is a real risk domestic abusers could be allowed straight back into homes.
“This soft-touch approach undermines our hardworking police officers across the capital and these figures should make the SNP re-think their plans to allow domestic abusers walk free.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in September 2017 that she wanted to abolish jail sentences of less than 12 months:
