Rape offences now outnumber robbery
Police chief vows to protect ‘vulnerable’ women
RAPE is now more common than robbery in Scotland, following a huge rise in reported cases.
New figures show there were 905 rapes between April and October 6 this year, compared with 669 in the same period last year – a 35 per cent increase.
Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House believes only about half of all rapes are reported to the police.
He said: ‘We are seeing something very strange happening. Rape used to be a very infrequent offence to see. Now we are seeing it much more often.
‘Every Monday, we sit down as a management team and it is not unusual to find that there are more rapes than robberies across the country. We have had 905 rapes and 727 robberies.
‘Robbery is 25 per cent down on the same time last year. Our detection rate for robbery is remarkably good and criminals know that. It has been coming down for a number of years.’
The robbery figure relates to incidents such as muggings, not housebreakings, which are classed separately.
Police believe some of the increase in reported rapes can be attributed to greater confidence among victims following the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal.
Sir Stephen said: ‘Because of the Savile case, victims have realised the police will take it seriously, there is no statute of limitation and they can still report it even if it happened ten years ago.
‘Partly as a result of taking domestic abuse more seriously, we are getting more rapes reported.’
Police are working with clubs and bars to ensure bouncers are trained in how to detect and intervene in situations where they believe a vulnerable woman
‘We are trying to do more’
is leaving alone or being lured away from friends. Officers are also being encouraged to intervene if they see a vulnerable woman with a stranger.
Sir Stephen said: ‘The scenario we are trying to do more about is the late-night predator. You’re in a nightclub or a pub, a group of girls who have all had too much to drink probably, and all of a sudden a man appears and is buying a drink for one girl.
‘Often people are not thinking clearly and they think one of them knows this guy. But he is a stranger who has decided to buy someone a drink to isolate them.
‘He puts his arm around her and starts talking to them and before you know it he’s ushering her away to a taxi.
‘The friends are left thinking she has gone off with that guy. If you were out in the middle of the day, would you get into a taxi with a man you had just met? Of course you wouldn’t. That is the vulnerability.
‘ Under the Best Bar None Scheme, we are getting licencees and door staff the training and confidence to intervene and challenge this. If they question the situation, that is usually enough to get the guy away.’
Scottish Tory chief whip John Lamont said: ‘Any initiatives that reduce the risk of rape must be considered thoroughly. But I find it hard to see how this approach is workable without intruding on every couple who happen to leave a nightclub together.
‘How is a police officer supposed to know if a couple know each other, and do the resources exist to conduct this approach?’