There are many positives findings in the report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) into Police Scotland's approach to the investigation of rape, not least the fact that the national detection rate for rape has improved considerably.
The report focuses on policing in Fife but the investigation had the national approach in mind and there are lessons that can potentially be applied across the country.
One of the report's most interesting findings is that in 2013/14, there was a big annual increase in the number of rapes recorded nationally (23.3%), but, even more strikingly, the rise in recorded rape in Fife Division was even greater at 85%. The report recommends that more work should be done to understand local variations in rape reporting and makes no conclusions on why the increase in Fife should have been so great, but it may be that the creation of Police Scotland, which has focused hard on sexual crime in its first months, and the imposition by the new force of national standards has highlighted the fact that some of the old forces were better than others in the investigation, recording and pursuit of sexual offences.
The report also looks at the work of Sexual Offences Liaison Officers, or SOLOs as they are known, and praises their work in offering support to victims of rape at an early stage. These officers are highly trained and experienced, and their work often considerably improves the chances of a good outcome to a rape investigation, but the HMICS report makes it clear that there are not enough of them, certainly in Fife.
As evidence of this, the report cites the case of one SOLO who was deployed on three separate rape investigations in a single week; staff also told the investigation that stretched resources often meant that SOLOs were involved in multiple consecutive enquiries. This is likely to increase officers' stress, but may also damage the effectiveness of their work and Police Scotland should act on the report's recommendation of a review of SOLOs to ensure there are enough of them to do their valuable work.
It is not the only resource issue that needs addressed. The investigation heard that officers working on rape investigations sometimes did not have access to unmarked cars, even though their use is central to the sensitive investigation of what is always a difficult subject. Unmarked vehicles protect victims, but also accused persons who may turn out to be innocent, and of course any children involved and Police Scotland must do everything it can to ensure that unmarked cars are available whenever they are needed.
The positive news is that the report makes clear that Police Scotland has the right structure in place to properly and efficiently investigate rape and that victims are mostly satisfied with how cases are handled, certainly in the initial stages. The introduction of the National Rape Review Team, which reviews cases after a month, also appears to have raised investigative standards. But a strong structure which ensures equal access to specialist support across the country is only a starting point; sufficient resources are also needed to make it work. Police Scotland must ensure that these are in place.
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