News

Civil justice option for survivors

Highlighted in the media today is a forthcoming landmark civil case brought by a woman from St Andrews following a not proven verdict in the case against the man accused of raping her.

Following the successful civil case for damages pursued last year by Denise Clair against David Goodwillie and David Robertson, Rape Crisis Scotland has seen increasing numbers of survivors in touch with us who say they are considering civil action as an option for them following the absence of any criminal prosecution, or one that has resulted in a not guilty or not proven verdict.

Making an Impact

Rape Crisis Scotland’s Annual Report for 2016-17 has just been published.

Want to find out how our work made an impact last year?

· How many people were in touch with our helpline?

· What has been happening in local centres?

· How has our Prevention programme engaged with young people?

· How have we been working to make positive changes for survivors?

· What’s been happening at the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre?

You can find these answers and a great deal more at:

https://issuu.com/rapecrisisscotland/docs/making_an_impact-highresfinal

New forensic standards for survivors of sexual violence launched today

£2.25 million to implement new forensic medical examination standards.

Services for people who have experienced rape or sexual assault are to be improved.

The first national standards for forensic medical examinations will be backed by £2.25 million funding to help NHS Boards implement them, ensuring a consistent service across Scotland.

Published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), the standards will ensure that victims – regardless of age, personal circumstances or geographical location – will experience a level of care to a high standard that aims to reduce the likelihood of further trauma.

Improving criminal justice experience for sexual crime victims

Scotland’s prosecution service is joining with Rape Crisis Scotland to obtain feedback from victims of sexual crime about their experience of the justice system.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS).

Under the new agreement RCS will share anonymous feedback on victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system and their views on the service provided by COPFS.

This information, only provided with the victim’s consent, will be used to identify ways COPFS can improve the service provided to victims of sexual crime.

The feedback will cover, among other things, the way the process was explained, how information was shared and where relevant the person’s experience in court. Victims will also be asked if anything could have been done better by COPFS.