Police / Women’s Aid respond to death of young woman in Sandness
RESPONDING to the ongoing investigation into the death of a 24-year old woman in a house in Sandness on Sunday, Shetland Women’s Aid has urged any woman who feels unsafe at home to contact them.
Police were called to the Westside village on Sunday afternoon following reports of a disturbance at a house.
A 39-year old man has been arrested but has not been charged at this point. Police said their investigation was ongoing.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the local Women’s Aid office said it was devastated by the news and added that its thoughts were with the woman’s loved ones at this tragic time.
“While we cannot comment further on this specific case as it is an ongoing police matter, we would like to extend our support to anyone who has been affected by the news,” the charity said.
“At Shetland Women’s Aid, we are here to support any woman who feels unsafe at home. In 2022/23 we supported 243 women and 106 children and young people affected by domestic abuse in our community.
“However, we recognise that due how difficult it can be for people to come forward, the actual number of individuals subjected to abuse in Shetland is likely to be higher.
“As a community it is vital that we recognise this reality and do what we can to reduce the stigma around tackling gender-based violence in our isles. It does happen here, and it cannot be tolerated.”
Councillor for Shetland West, Liz Peterson, has also commented on the events of recent days.
She said: “This has been an awful shock to the small, close-knit community of Sandness. “As this is an ongoing live investigation, I cannot comment further, but it would be appreciated if the family can be left in peace to mourn the loss of their loved one.”
Meanwhile, the Canadian foreign office has confirmed that it is aware of reports of the death of a Canadian citizen in Scotland.
“Consular officials are contacting local authorities to obtain additional information,” they said in a statement to Shetland News.
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