Rape Crisis Scotland

New Rape Crisis National Service Standards and National Statistics on Rape Crisis Services in Scotland

To coincide with International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women, Rape Crisis (England and Wales) and Rape Crisis Scotland have launched their new National Service Standards for Rape Crisis Centres. The standards represent a collaboration between the two national umbrella organisations and are the culmination of a process of research, reflection, consultation and definition spanning five years.

The standards describe in detail what is needed in order to deliver effective specialist sexual violence services. They cover the wider aspects of managing an organisation as well the more specific detail of services to survivors of rape and sexual assault such as the need to provide confidentiality and ensure safety. Please click here for a full press statement.

Rape Crisis Scotland is also publishing for the first time statistics outlining the services provided by rape crisis centres across Scotland. These provide, for the very first time, a picture of the range services offered to survivors of sexual violence throughout the country, and a broad profile of those who are accessing these.

Ten centres participated in the project: Argyll & Bute, Dundee, Dumfries & Galloway, Fife, Glasgow, Edinburgh (including ELSAS their East Lothian project), Lanarkshire, Perth & Kinross, Scottish Borders and the Western Isles.

72% of callers to Rape Crisis Centre helplines are calling for the first time. The statistics shown give a summary of the support offered by these centres for the period 1 April 2010 – 31 March 2011. It is clear from these figures that there is a significant demand for rape crisis services across the country.

It is important to note that the actual level of support offered by RCCs in Scotland is greater than the figures given here. These figures represent the data from the ten participants of our 13 member centres during the project.* In addition, the actual level of prevalence of sexual violence in Scotland is likely to be far greater than the figures represented here, as many survivors of sexual violence don’t feel able to tell anyone about what has happened to them.

*Statistics for the other three member centres – Aberdeen, Central Scotland and Kilmarnock may be available either from their websites or by contacting the centre directly. Please visit www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk for contact information.

Please contact Rape Crisis Scotland on 0141 331 4180 or email info@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk for further information. You can also download the information on this page as an Information Paper.