Domestic abuse: Force makes 244 arrests

Approximately eight people were arrested on suspicion of domestic violence offences every day in Gloucestershire during December

Nearly 250 people were arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse-related offences during December in Gloucestershire.

Six of those detained were arrested on Christmas Day, and nine were arrested on New Year's Eve.

More than 85% of those arrested in the last nine days of December - from 23 December to 31 December - were men.

Gloucestershire Police said the figures for both arrests and domestic abuse-related crimes reported were the highest they have been since July.

Ch Supt Kerry Paterson said the force was releasing its arrest data "to help expose the prevalence of domestic abuse" with the hope of changing attitudes and behaviours.

In total, 244 people were arrested for domestic abuse-related offences between 1 and 31 December - almost eight arrests a day.

Five of those arrested on Christmas Day were done so on suspicion of physically assaulting a partner, former partner or family member, and the other on suspicion of harassment with violence.

On New Year's Eve, seven people were arrested on suspicion of physical assaults, one for threats of arson, and another for a public order offence.

The youngest person arrested was in their late teens, while the oldest was in their 80s.

Eleven women were detained, including seven suspected of committing physical assaults, and four who were arrested for harassment, public order, making threats to kill, and criminal damage, respectively.

'Completely unacceptable'

Among those taken into custody was a man in his 30s who was reported to be controlling who his sister could be in a relationship with, and a man in his 40s who had punched his wife in the face.

The figures are slightly down from December 2023, when 259 arrests were made.

Ch Supt Paterson said: "Sadly, Christmas for some people in our county this year has not been a happy one as officers have been called to their homes to apprehend their partners, former partners or family members.

"The behaviour of those taken into custody is completely unacceptable and many can now expect to face significant consequences for their actions."

She added the force wanted victims to know they were there for them, and help was available.

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