Police said awareness of the problem has increased

Scottish Executive figures showed that 176 cases were recorded last year in comparison with 47 in 2000.

Det Sgt Gill Milligan from the region's Police Family Protection Unit said it did not reflect a growing problem.

He said a greater awareness of domestic violence and confidence in reporting such crimes had combined to encourage more men to come forward.

"What I would summarise from the figures is that the police and other agencies have all improved their services," he said.

The police and all the agencies take this very seriously as do the courts DS Gill Milligan Dumfries and Galloway Police

"It has led to an increased level of confidence in the public - in victims in particular - to come forward and report it."

Mr Milligan said this was probably helping to reveal the real extent of the problem.

"The police and all the agencies take this very seriously as do the courts," he said.

"I think we are reaching a truer figure of domestic abuse incidents in Scotland."

Support services

However, he admitted that there was a recognised lack of specialised support services for men.

"Women's Aid exists solely for women victims as women are predominantly the victims of domestic abuse," he said.

"However, it has been recognised that there are many male victims - this has been shown in the figures where there is a fourfold increase since 2000.