The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Scots rape counsellor to train Cypriot police
AScottish rape counsellor is to help train police in Cyprus following controversy over their treatment of an alleged British victim.
Isabelle Kerr, manager of the Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre, will start a coaching course on the Mediterranean island this week with former detective and sexual violence exper t Alison Eaton.
The pair are to help train Cypriot police on how to improve their response to rape claims.
They will also help carry out a feasibility study to look at potentially opening the country’s first sexual assault referral centre.
The island was at the centre of an international row over its treatment of a British 19- year- old who claimed to have been raped by up to 12 Israeli youths in an Ayia Napa hotel room.
The woman was diagnosed with a severe post-traumatic stress disorder after being turned from victim to suspect – eventually receiving a fourmonth suspended jail sentence when a judge found her guilty of fabricating her claim.
She was finally allowed home on Januar y 8 – almost six months after reporting the incident.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had expressed “serious concern” over the case and vowed to work with the Cypriot authorities to ensure there could never be a repeat.
Ms Kerr said: “We are heading to Cyprus to train the Cypriot police and do some work looking into the possibility of opening a sexual assault referral centre on the island.
“We have developed a training package for police officers and other first responders, particularly around forensic capture, but also on how to gather good evidence while dealing with someone who has experienced a trauma.
“This has been set up through the Foreign Office and we are aiming to improve the way the y handle similar cases.”
Ms Kerr’s international work helping rape and sexual assault victims was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this month when she was awarded an MBE.
The 64-year-old has helped counsel attack victims for almost 40 years and has managed the Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre since 2006.
The centre has received £ 10,000- a- year funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to provide support to British nationals who report being sexually assaulted abroad.
Ms Kerr, who last year received an honorary doctorate from Strathclyde University for her work tackling violence against women, said: “As you can imagine, most calls come from Spain and France, which are the most popular holiday destinations and have a large expat population.
“But we have had calls from all over the world – Ukraine, Singapore, Tasmania, the US and we’ve actually had quite a few from Thailand.”
There are now 16 Rape Crisis Centres around Scotland and the organisation has revolutionised the approach of Police Scotland and the courts.
But, despite dramatic improvements, 2,293 rapes and 133 attempted rapes were reported to the police in Scotland in 2018-19.
And Ms Kerr admitted hearing women’s harrowing
abuse stories can take its toll. She said: “I get angry, I get frustrated.
“I often say to people ‘If you open the door one day and there’s a young girl standing in her school uniform and she’s come for her support session, I get angry’.
“The worst thing in that young girl’s life should be what kind of shoes she’s going to wear, not worrying about rape crisis support.”
Minister for Europe, Wendy Morton, said: “Our number one priority is keeping British people safe, and doing all we can to help those who need our support overseas.
“Rape and sexual assault is an abhorrent crime and the UK Government is pleased the Cypriot authorities are working so closely with us, and Glasgow and Clyde Sexual Assault Referral Centre, to improve how survivors are looked after on the island.”