News
Now is the time to deliver on key pledges on sexual violence
It is now clear that the SNP will be the next Scottish Government.
Two explicit commitments in their manifesto are of particular interest to anyone concerned with addressing violence against women: continuing funding for Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid, and legislating so that in sexual offence trials judges will direct juries not to take into account any delay in reporting a rape or any apparent lack of resistance from the victim / survivor when reaching their decision. Two very important pledges with the potential to make a real difference. Provision of support and access to justice following a crime as traumatic as rape need to be seen as basic human rights. Rape Crisis Scotland looks forward to the implementation of these commitments and to working with the new Scottish Government to improve responses to sexual violence.
Increase in rape convictions in Scotland
New figures released by the Scottish Government show a significant increase in the proportion of rape cases which reach court leading to a conviction.
Out of 92 rapes prosecuted in 2009-10, there were 41 convictions. This compares with 26 convictions out of 85 rape prosecutions the previous year.
The recorded crime figures for the same year show that there were 884 rapes reported to the police. The proportion of reported rapes leading to a conviction was 4.6%[1], compared to 3% in 2008-09. The majority of reported rapes did not reach court – only approximately 10% of rapes were prosecuted. However, of the rapes prosecuted the conviction rate was 44.6%.
2009-10
2008-09
Rapes recorded by the police
884
821
Number of rapes prosecuted
92
85
Number of convictions
41
26
Recent years have seen significant changes in the way rape is investigated and prosecuted in Scotland. This has included the establishment of a dedicated National Sexual Crimes Unit to oversee the prosecution of sexual offences in Scotland. Rape Crisis Scotland is encouraged to see a quite significant increase in the number of rapes which get to court resulting in a conviction.
It remains, however, a matter of concern that so few rapes ever reach court. Rape is a crime which can take a lot of courage to report to the police, and finding out your case is not going to court can be devastating.
It is clear that much remains to be done, not least in changing attitudes to rape to try to minimize the impact that women blaming attitudes may have on jury deliberations. We hope that these new figures are indicative that as a nation we are moving in the right direction in improving access to justice following rape.
[1] The figures relating to rapes recorded by the police and court proceedings statistics are not directly comparable due to the police recording by offence and the court figures recording by accused (an accused might be responsible for more than one incident). However, these are the only figures available to measure the proportion of recorded rapes leading to a conviction.
Scottish Government Throws A Lifeline to Vital Violence Against Women Services Across Scotland
We are delighted to report that the Scottish Government has announced its intention to continue funding for violence against women services in Scotland for the coming year.
New initiative aimed to improve women’s safety
Glasgow Taxis recently launched a new initiative offering to provide a safe, secure and prioritised service to women. The development, which was run initially over the Christmas period, has now been extended indefinitely. The “Female First” service is intended to stop women having to wander about in search of a taxi after a night out or at other times.
All drivers are guaranteed to have undergone Full Enhanced Disclosure Scotland checks and all calls are recorded both digitally and on paper. Payment of the account is monthly, meaning that no cash is required to book one, and the facility means that women can use the account to stop any Glasgow Taxi (with a small flag on top) on the street.
Anyone wishing to register someone for a “Female First” account should contact 0141 554 2222 and quote “Female First”.
"Consent" screening and discussion event
Rape Crisis Scotland is holding a special screening of the film “Consent”, which was originally broadcast on Channel 4 in 2007.
RSSLatest posts
- Remembering Tansy Main
- Sex crimes in Scotland reach second-highest level in 54 years
- RCS calls for the Scottish Government and MSPs to work together to introduce key legislation for survivors of sexual crime
- Changes announced by the Sottish Government to the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill
- Landmark judgment on corroboration in sexual offence cases
