DOMESTIC violence support workers in Orkney and Shetland have seen a massive rise in their caseloads, charity Women’s Aid announced yesterday.

Orkney Women’s Aid has seen a 40 per cent increase in its caseload over two years with staff arguing that part of the reason was that more women felt comfortable to report the abuse.

The announcement comes in the wake of the Scottish government revealing an 11 per cent rise in sexual violence across Scotland in the last two years — the highest rate for 44 years.