There has been a “worrying rise” in domestic and sexual offending among 16 to 18-year-olds since the Covid pandemic, a leading prosecutor has warned.
Emma Forbes, national procurator fiscal for domestic abuse for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, made the comments at Holyrood’s justice committee.
She also told MSPs that according to evidence given to the committee by a charity, the increase is believed to be “a result of access to pornography online, especially during lockdown, when there was less peer influence, less parental influence and more online influence”.
It comes as an advocacy service supporting domestic abuse victims released new figures showing the number of child victims aged 15 or under it is helping has more than doubled in the past five years.
ASSIST (Advocacy Support Safety Information Services Together), which is run by Glasgow City Council, also revealed that the number of 16 and 17-year-olds it is supporting has nearly tripled over the same period.
The service, which provides advocacy for domestic abuse victims with cases going through criminal courts, said this pointed to a “problem with misogyny”.
The number of children aged 15 or under it supported rose from nine in 2019 to 20 in 2025, while the number of 16 and 17-year-olds increased from 26 to 73.
An ASSIST spokesperson said: “We are seeing an increasing number of young people coming to our service.
“The levels of violence, including sexual violence, and coercive control disclosed by young people have also increased during this period.
“There are many possible reasons that may have contributed to this rise, such as the prevalence of abuse, heightened societal awareness, a rise in police reporting, the impact of Covid lockdowns, online pornography access, or a combination of all these factors.
“The vast majority of cases referred to us involve a female victim and a male perpetrator, and we are concerned this points to a problem with misogyny.
“It’s crucial the protective measures for young people mirror the service response for adults, while still recognising these are young people in a very vulnerable situation.”
“We must confront where these harmful ideas are coming from, and how quickly they can take hold, particularly in the digital age”
Jimmy Paul, Scottish Violence Reduction Unit
The spokesperson added: “Being able to build a trusting relationship with a professional who specialises in domestic abuse in young people’s relationships will help young victims engage with a system that protects them.”
The Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU) said misogynistic and violent behaviours are learned and reinforced.
Jimmy Paul, head of the SVRU, told 1919: “That matters because it means change is possible.
“But it also means we must confront where these harmful ideas are coming from, and how quickly they can take hold, particularly in the digital age.
“Today, young men are navigating a complex and confusing world, searching for identity, belonging and direction. Increasingly, that search is taking place online, where algorithms can amplify extreme or harmful messaging at a pace much faster than real-world influences can counter.”
He said this creates a “landscape where misogyny is normalised, reinforced, and even presented as aspirational”.
“At the same time, it is important to recognise the courage of young people who are coming forward in greater numbers to speak about their experiences,” Paul added.
“Their voices are crucial in helping us to both understand and address the issues.
“If we are serious about the prevention of violence, we must meet young people where they are: both in their communities and in the digital spaces that increasingly shape their world. Only then can we begin to build a culture where abuse is neither tolerated nor normalised.”