News

Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline Anniversary Conference

Rape Crisis Scotland’s National Helpline celebrates 10 years of supporting survivors this year and is holding a 10th Anniversary conference on 9th November.

This conference will look at the developments the helpline has made, how the work has fed into wider changes in policy and practice, as well as looking to the future.
Key note speakers include:

• Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice
• Sandie Barton, Director of Operations, Rape Crisis Scotland
• Sandra Ferguson, Programme Manager NES Trauma Training Framework Team
• Stuart Houston, Detective Superintendent, National Rape Task Force
• Oona Brooks, Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, University of Glasgow

Vision outlined to improve court experience for children & vulnerable witnesses

As part of Evidence & Procedure Review, the Scottish Courts & Tribunal Service has today published a report which outlines measures which could improve the way children and vulnerable witnesses experience the court process.

These include encouraging and improving the use of taking evidence by a Commissioner (the current system where a child or vulnerable witness can be questioned in advance of trial, under the supervision of a judge) and changes to legislation to shorten the gap between initial interview and further examination. The report also sets out a long term vision based around the Barnahus (Children’s House) model in place in Scandinavian countries - initially for children, but extended later to other vulnerable witnesses. The Barnahus model spares children from repetitive interviews by different agencies in a variety of locations, which can be harmful and confusing, and can damage the quality of their evidence.

New figures from the Scottish Government show record levels of sexual crime

Clear and urgent need to expand prevention work with young people.

· 26% increase in sexual crimes between 2013-14 and 2016-17.

· Rapes in Scotland have risen by 4% in the past year to 1,755, and attempted rapes by 5%.

The Scottish Government has today published statistics on Recorded Crime in Scotland for 2016-17. Although reported crime overall has gone down, sexual crimes continue to rise. Part of the reason for this is a dramatic rise in the number of offences in the ‘Other Sexual Offences’ category, which is one of four categories Police Scotland use to record sexual crimes, and is made up of a wide range of sexual crimes. ‘Other sexual crimes’ accounted for 40% of sexual crimes in 2016-17, ahead of ‘Sexual assault’ (almost 40%) and ‘Rape & attempted rape’ (17%).

A separate report focusing on ‘Other sexual crimes’ and highlighting the significant rise in these between 2013-14 and 2016-17 has also been published to accompany the broader report and to look at this area in more detail. The report highlights the high prevalence of sexual crime being experienced by young women under the age of 16.

Funding to expand services in Orkney and Shetland

Rape crisis services in Orkney and Shetland will receive an extra £38,000 to increase their staff, the Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has announced.

Over the course of two days Mr Matheson met with survivors who have been supported by Shetland and Orkney Rape Crisis Centres to discuss the difference that having local advocacy support services has meant for them.

He said:

“Rape Crisis Scotland does incredible work and is literally a life line to those who need their services. I have had the privilege of meeting with people who have been supported by these new services and they cannot speak highly enough of the support they have received from Shetland and Orkney Rape Crisis. That is why I am delighted that we are building on the success of the establishment of these local centers and providing additional funding for each.