News

Scottish Government publishes Bill to remove requirement for corroboration

Rape Crisis Scotland welcomes Scottish Government plans to drop the requirement for corroboration, but warns that with the proposed increase in the jury majority, action must be taken to reduce the role that misinformation and prejudice may play in jury decision-making.

You can download the full statement from Rape Crisis Scotland here.

16% rise in reported rapes in Scotland

The Scottish Government today published crime figures for 2012-13.

The new figures demonstrate a significant rise in the level of sexual crime reported to the police, with 16% more rapes reported in the past year. While any increase of this size is worrying, it is hard to tell if the increase is due to the fact more rapes are taking place or because more survivors feel able to report what has happened to them. The police have taken considerable steps in recent years to improve people’s confidence that if they do report a sexual crime, they will be treated well and with sensitivity. It is likely that at least some of the increase in reported rapes is due to more people feeling able to come forward and speak to the police about what has happened to them.

You can see the full report "Recorded Crime in Scotland" here, and coverage in the Daily Record ("Scottish crime rate falls to lowest level on 39 years but concern voiced over rise in the number of rapes") here.

Write to End Violence Against Women Award

Rape Crisis Scotland is delighted to join Zero Tolerance, White Ribbon Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid and the NUJ in launching a new award to reward excellence in the reporting of violence against women.

RCS published Victims & Witnesses evidence

Rape Crisis Scotland has published written evidence to the Justice Committee on the Victim and Witnesses Bill, which is currently going through Stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament.

As part of this, we are calling for all complainers in sexual offence cases to have guaranteed access to a female forensic examiner, as all available evidence shows that this is the preference of female and male survivors. We welcome the proposal to make access to Special Measures an automatic right in sexual offence cases. We have also made a number of proposals for issues not currently covered within the Bill to be considered. You can download a copy of our written evidence here.