One woman a month is killed by a violent partner in Scotland, shocking figures show.
Police Scotland say the number of domestic homicides rose to 12 last year – compared to six the year before.
The number of domestic attempted murders of women soared by to 88, up from 56 the previous year.
Overall, Police Scotland recorded 66,434 domestic abuse incidents last year, highlighting the continuing epidemic of violence against women and girls.
View 2 ImagesCampaigners insist the figures represent only the tip of the iceberg, underlining the grim reality that, for many, home is the most dangerous place to be.
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill described violence against women and girls as a “scourge in our society”, saying we all must “work together to eliminate it”.
She said: “That means not just condemning it whenever such horrific statistics are published, but taking action to make a difference.
“Scottish Labour has called for a tightening of bail laws so that those with a history of domestic abuse and violence cannot be bailed to their current or previous partner’s address.
“And we have called for the creation of a specialist victims’ support team which can coordinate between justice agencies and act as a single point of contact for victims of crime.”
Ms McNeill added: “Fundamentally, we also must ensure that Police Scotland has the resources it needs to enable officers to serve on the frontline and keep our communities safe.”
Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher claimed women deserved more than “warm words and another strategy document”.
She said: “These figures show the need for practical action, including a domestic abuse register, to help better protect those at risk and strengthen safeguards against repeat offenders.
“The Scottish Government must explain why, after years of promises, the situation continues to move in the wrong direction.” Liam McArthur MSP said it was “disappointing to see a further rise” in domestic abuse incidents.
He added: “While this will partly reflect the increased willingness of survivors to come forward, the true scale of this crime is difficult to measure because a large proportion of cases still go unreported.”
Dr Marsha Scott, CEO of Scottish Women’s Aid, warned the true scale of domestic abuse in Scotland is far greater than official figures suggest.
She said: “Many incidents go unreported, and some deaths, including suicides and other deaths following prolonged abuse, are not currently identified or recorded as domestic abuse-related in official statistics.”
Dr Scott added: “This is precisely why the development of Scotland’s Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review model is so important – it will help ensure that learning is drawn from all relevant deaths where abuse is known or suspected, so that future tragedies can be prevented.”
She warned the figures “remain a stark reminder” of the level of harm occurring every day.
She said: “They also reflect ongoing gaps in how risk is identified and responded to, particularly around coercive control, housing insecurity and economic abuse.”
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “Domestic violence, overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women, is abhorrent and there are far too many cases.”
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Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs added: “Women and girls should be able to live their lives free from all forms of violence and abuse, and addressing the harmful effects of violent crime and supporting victims remains a priority for our officers.”