New team investigates amid surge in reports of historical sex crimes

A DEDICATED team has been established to investigate historical sexual offences in Tayside.

Officers working in the area have faced a surge in complaints older than one year, which are more difficult to investigate and have put pressure on police resources across Tayside.

Senior officers i n the region have previously linked a drop in overall detection rates t o t he increase in the number of older offences reported.

Support workers say outcomes for the victims of sexual crime continue to be “less than satisfactory”.

The Non Recent Sexual Crime Team, based i n Dundee’s Bell Street but covering Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross, began work in July.

It follows the opening of a forensic examination suite i n Dundee, where police can conduct forensic examinations and offer support in one location.

It is also one of the only units in Scotland to facilitate an anonymous referral option where victims can choose not to speak to police.

Detective Inspector Mark Lamont, responsible for the Non Recent Sexual Crime Team, said: “The creation of the new team, as well as the forensic examination suite, is part of the improvement work identified i n order to enhance our service provided to victims.”

The announcement follows falling rape detection rates across Tayside during the first part of this year.

In Dundee, the rate fell 30.7% – from 75.8% to 45.1%.

Police in Angus reported slightly worse figures, with the detection rate falling 37.7%, from 68.2% to 30.5%.

In Perth and Kinross the rate fell from 54.1% to 48.7%.

Heather Williams, Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre – Dundee and Angus, said they had seen more women coming forward to talk about the past.

“Hopefully this latest approach by the police will see an i mprovement i n detection which will lead to an i mprovement i n convictions.”