New powers given to police to crack down on domestic abuse have led to more than 100 alleged incidents being reported in the first month.
Ministers made psychological cruelty and coercive behaviour a crime in a bill described as “groundbreaking” by the country’s top prosecutor of the offence.
The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 was introduced on April 1.
Gordon McCreadie, detective superintendent of Police Scotland’s domestic abuse unit, said: “Police have recorded over 100 crimes under the new offence. I’m delighted with the introduction and production of the new Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act.
“It really does mark a new era in how we tackle domestic abuse in Scotland.”
Prosecutors at the country’s busiest sheriff court in Glasgow have used the legislation against 11 alleged abusers.
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Figures for the rest of Scotland will be released this week.
Anne Marie Hicks, national procurator fiscal for domestic abuse, said: “Scotland’s groundbreaking new legislation represents a highly significant step forward in tackling domestic abuse.
“The number of reports we have received so far is encouraging and I hope this will provide victims with greater confidence to report all forms of abusive behaviour.”
Police gave officers extra training in preparation for the change in law.
McCreadie added: “It’s been a challenge to bring out the coercive control. It’s been a hidden aspect of abuse until now. This is an area we couldn’t tackle through previous legislation but now it’s being brought in to the open.
"We can now investigate and report the full circumstances of an abusive relationship to the crown.”
Minister for Community Safety Ash Denham said: “Scotland is leading the way with this groundbreaking legislation, which holds perpetrators to account for all the different forms domestic abuse takes.”
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Women’s Aid Scotland boss Marsha Scott said: “I’m delighted to see the police and Crown Office being proactive and using the new law.”
The legislation covers not just physical abuse but psychological and emotional treatment and coercive and controlling behaviour.
This occurs when abusers isolate their victim from friends and relatives or control their finances.
