Rape trials law change

LEGISLATION aimed at improving the way sexual offences are dealt with in court comes into force today.

Judges will be required to give special information to juries in certain trials, including where there is a delay in the victim reporting the crime and where there is no evidence of physical resistance by the victim.

Rape Crisis Scotland’s Sandy Brindley said: “It should help to ensure verdicts are based on the evidence rather than being influenced by assumptions about how victims should react.”