Watchdog criticises abuse campaign

The Advertising Standards Authority has
challenged the accuracy of figures on domestic violence used by the
Scottish executive in an advertising campaign.

The disputed statistics were used in a
national advertising campaign in December 2000, which stated that
one in five women “live with the constant fear of abuse”. It also
emphasised that domestic abuse crossed social classes, ages and
communities.

The ASA was asked to investigate the claim.
The Scottish executive’s figures are based on the Scottish Crime
Survey, which sampled 5,000 households. Of female respondents aged
between 16 and 59 who were with a partner, one in five claimed they
had experienced threats of force at some point in their lives.

The ASA ruled that this was insufficient
evidence to justify wider claims and has asked the executive to
change the claim in future adverts.

A Scottish executive spokesperson said they
still believed their figures were close to the reality of domestic
abuse suffered by women.

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