News
Statement on Glasgow Clan signing
Earlier this year, we were deeply disappointed by Raith Rovers FC's decision to David Goodwillie, who was found by a senior judge to be a rapist. Yesterday, we found ourselves again discouraged by the actions of management in Scottish sports when Glasgow Clan ice hockey club announced the signing of Lasse Uusivirta, who was arrested on allegations of a rape charge in the US in 2013 and left the country before he could be brought to trial.
Signing men who have been accused of sexual crimes sends the entirely wrong message, it says that men's athletic abilities are worth more than the lives of the women they've harmed. These decisions can be retraumatising for survivors and decision-makers must be held accountable for the harm caused by their actions.
Rape Crisis Scotland position on restorative justice in sexual offence cases
Earlier this year, it was announced that survivors of rape and domestic abuse in Scotland will be able to access restorative justice for the first time. This refers to a voluntary process of facilitated contact between survivors and their convicted perpetrators.
Not Proven: An Update
We welcome the independent analysis, released yesterday by the Scottish Government (read it here), on the response to the consultation on The Not Proven Verdict and Related Reforms, and particularly the clear majority support for the removal of the Not Proven verdict.
For most people who have experienced sexual crimes in Scotland the justice system in its current state is, quite simply, not working. The conviction rate for rape and attempted rape remains stubbornly low, the lowest of any crime type, and it has been this way for over a decade. We need action, and we need it now.
Rape Crisis Scotland calls for bold action as conviction rates for rape and attempted rape remain lowest of all crimes for the last ten years.
New figures released by the Scottish Government in June 2022 reveal that rape and attempted rape has had the lowest conviction rate of all crimes each year for the last decade.
In 2021-22, just 51% of rape and attempted rape trials resulted in a conviction, compared to a 91% overall conviction rate. The number of convictions also decreased by 40% from 130 in 2019-20 to just 78 in 2020-21.
New figures show a 96% increase in the level of sexual crime reported to the police in Scotland over the past decade.
New figures released today by the Scottish Government show that:
• The level of reported sexual crime has increased by 96% over the past 10 years.
• In the past year, reported rape and attempted rape has increased by 9% and sexual assault by 29%.
• There has been a 17% increase in threatening to or disclosing intimate images.
• 37% of the sexual crimes recorded by the police in the past year (2021-22) related to a victim under the age of 18.
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
