Anger as rape victims wait months for aid
Crisis as Sturgeon pledges £2m boost
Rape victims have to wait almost a year to access support services, according to shocking official figures.
Nicola Sturgeon pledged a £2million support package for people who have suffered sexual assault in her programme for government last week.
And statistics released by the Scottish Government have revealed how desperately the cash is needed at rape centres across the country.
Victims in Glasgow and Dundee are having to wait up to 10 months for support services while those in Fife, Perth, and Dumfries and Galloway endure a six-month delay.
In Edinburgh and Lanarkshire the wait is five months and in the Highlands it can be more than five months.
The figures, supplied by Rape Crisis Scotland, also reveal a postcode lottery for victims.
Those in Grampian and Ayrshire are seen within a matter of weeks while on Orkney and in the Western Isles there appears to be no delay.
Sandy Brindley, of Rape Crisis Scotland, said: “Rape Crisis centres across Scotland are seeing unprecedented levels of demand.
“Funding issues mean that some have had to close their waiting list for support. The announcement this week of extra funding is very welcome.
“The funding will be used to reduce waiting times for survivors seeking support after rape or abuse.
“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government and local authorities to develop a sustainable model of funding for rape crisis services. It can take a lot of courage to contact a Rape Crisis service for support – whether it’s in the hours after a rape or many years later.
“Support after rape should be available at the point of need – no one should have to wait for months or not even be able to get on a waiting list in the first place.”
The Scottish Government provide core support of £ 50,000 a year to Scotland’s 16 Rape Crisis centres.
And ministers claim to have invested £20million since 2015 into the Violence Against Women and Girls Justice Fund.
But Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who obtained the waiting time figures through a parliamentary question, has insisted more funds are desperately needed. She said: “This emergency funding from the Scottish Government can’t come soon enough for cash-strapped Rape Crisis services, who do brilliant work with so little.
“Traumatised women and girls are waiting up to 10 months for essential support and this should shame Scotland. Survivors of sexual assault should always be able to access support services at the point of need.
“In my own area Lanarkshire, the service is running with a quarter of the volunteers it needs because the money isn’t there to train new recruits.
“Encouraging survivors to come forward needs to backed up with guaranteed practical support and the Scottish Government, working with local authorities, Police Scotland and other partners, must raise their game.” Along with support centres, the Scottish Government also fund the Rape Crisis Scotland helpline, which offers confidential support.
The cash announced by Sturgeon last week will include £ 1.5million specifically for Rape Crisis centres.
Minister for Older People and Equalities Christina McKelvie said: “We want to encourage everyone to feel able to come forward if they have been a victim of domestic or sexual abuse and to be able to access the right support when they need it.
“Our programme for Government confirmed that starting next month, Rape Crisis centres will be given an additional £ 1.5million over three years, allowing them to ensure more people can receive support and also helping these services plan for the future.”