But conviction rates slump 7%

!2#4)# #/-&/24 6)+ s .)'(43 -!.(!44!. !4 4)-%3 315!2% s .)'(43 .IGHTS &LYING FROM 'LASGOW THE conviction rate for rapes and attempted rapes has fallen to its lowest in a decade – but the number of cases brought to court has increased.

Sexual violence support groups and MSPs say it is a worrying trend.

Labour justice spokesman Daniel Johnson said: “These crimes are already under-reported. We have seen positive steps from the Government to rectify that, such as the ‘I Just Froze’ public information campaign. But serious questions need to be asked as to why conviction rates are falling.

“People need to have faith that coming forward means they will get support they need and that they will see a robust process.”

Rape and attempted rape convictions fell by seven per cent from 105 to 98. Court proceedings rose from 216 to 251, up 16 per cent.

Combined, this gives a conviction rate of 39 per cent – the lowest rate since 2008-9.

The rate was at a 10-year high of 56 per cent in 2012-13.

The figures don’t take account of the many other reported rapes that don’t make it to court.

The trends were published in a Scottish Government report on crime statistics for 2016-17.

The figures show the number of offenders convicted for sexual crimes fell by 11 per cent to 1037. It’s the lowest in five years, although 37 per cent higher than in 2010-11.

Rape Crisis Scotland chief executive

BES UK

Sandy Brindley said it’s time to look again at the requirement for corroboration in criminal cases in Scotland, which means there has to be evidence from more than one source.

The Scottish Government previously dropped plans to ditch the centuries-old requirement.

Brindley said: “The past decade has seen increasing numbers of women and men coming forward to report what has happened to them.

“In a year where there were 1878 rapes and attempted rapes reported to the police, there were only 98 convictions. The vast majority of reported rapes never make it to court.

“The most common reason rape survivors are given for this is the requirement for corroboration. This disproportionately affects rape cases.”

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “While the relatively low conviction rate for rape reflects, in part, the challenging evidential requirements to prove this crime, the Government will continue to seek to strengthen the law where possible and how such cases are dealt with.”

Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said the trend was “concerning”.