Rape victims wait two days to see doctor
VICTIMS of sex crime are being ‘let down’ by the justice system, with some having to wait two days without washing before being seen by doctors, a watchdog has revealed.
Some are examined in facilities that are under-equipped and have not been properly cleaned.
The forensic medical services report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) uncovered significant variations in the quality and availability of forensic medical services – with some branded ‘unacceptable’.
The findings come as the number of sexual offences soars – with police figures showing 40 per cent of alleged rapists are not brought to justice.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Douglas Ross said the review ‘gives us further insight into the appalling treatment received by victims of sexual assault’. He added: ‘For them to be treated in this manner is simply inexcusable.’
The HMICS review said there was ‘much more to be done’ for a consistent service to be in place across the country. It spoke of an urgent need for work to end victims being examined in police premises and said Scotland was ‘well behind’ the rest of the UK when it comes to having facilities which meet the needs of victims and the necessary forensic requirements.
Inspectors highlighted how a lack of availability of services in some places can mean lengthy journeys for victims, who may be asked not to wash for a day or more after an assault.
The Scottish Government said an expert group was being set up to drive improvements in health services for victims. The HMICS report said: ‘Victims are being let down by the standard of service available.’
The watchdog said ‘significant variations in the provision of forensic medical services persist, with issues of availability as well as geography making the quality of service offered to some victims unacceptable’.
The report added: ‘Lack of availability of services locally leads to delays and lengthy journeys for victims of sexual crime, who can be asked not to wash for a day or more.’ The watch- dog also revealed there have been cases where ‘the victim has requested a female doctor and been told they can be examined by a male doctor straight away, or wait for a day or two to get a female doctor and asked not to wash’.
This ‘leads to victims consenting to an examination in circumstances where they are uncomfortable’.
Medics in the West of Scotland complained examination facilities were ‘too small, not forensically cleaned between cases’ and lacked the ‘most basic equipment for taking the most rudimentary and essential samples’.
Gill Imery of HMICS, who led the review, said investment was needed to address the ‘disparity’ across Scotland.
Sandy Brindley of Rape Crisis Scotland said: ‘We have had concerns for some time about the response to the immediate needs of people who have been raped or sexually assaulted.’
Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins said police ‘place the highest priority on the support provided to victims’.
Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs the situation was ‘not good enough’, while Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: ‘More needs to be done to create a consistently high standard of service across Scotland.’
‘Appalling treatment’