Feedback wanted from abuse victims

Scotland’s prosecution service is looking for victims of sexual crimes to give feedback on their experience of the judiciary in an effort to improve the system.

The move comes after Rape Crisis Scotland said findings of an Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland report were unacceptable. The agency highlighted one survivor who described the court process as “worse than being raped”.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is now working with the charity to gather anonymous feedback to tackle issues.

Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC said: “We cannot bring the perpetrators of sexual crime to justice unless victims come forward and speak up.

“That is why we value the work of Rape Crisis Scotland and other organisations, which provide support to victims.

“That is why we have revised our own Victim Strategy and want to continue to improve the service which we provide.

“These arrangements for obtaining feedback from victims on a more systematic basis will help us to do that.”

Feedback will cover the way the process is explained, how information is shared and the person’s experience in court.

Victims will also be asked if anything could have been done better by COPFS.

This information, only provided with the victim’s consent, will be used to help identify ways COPFS can improve.