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RCS calls for the Scottish Government and MSPs to work together to introduce key legislation for survivors of sexual crime

Rape Crisis Scotland have released a briefing calling for MSPs to support key provisions in the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, including the establishment of a specialist sexual offences court and changes to the provisions of the contempt of court legislation to allow for approved research with juries.

We are also supporting a number of important additions to the Bill, including a presumption of issuing non harassment orders in sexual offence cases (following the excellent campaigning of Amelia Price) introducing a right to independent advocacy support and introducing a requirement for the criminal justice system to provide a single point of contact for victims.

The Victims Bill represents a once in a generation opportunity to reform how our criminal justice system responds to sexual crime. There is no doubt about the need for change: the conviction rate for rape is the lowest of any crime type in Scotland, and those who have been through the justice process regularly describe it as a traumatic and violating experience.

Survivors of rape and other sexual crime have given their time and emotional energy to campaign for different elements of this Bill. A number of survivors also gave evidence to the Criminal Justice Committee to make clear why they think reform is necessary, and to give their opinions on different elements of the Bill.

We are asking MSPs from across all parties to approach the Bill in the spirit of recognising and honouring survivors’ contributions.