Report Summary
This report provides members of the Policing Performance Committee with an overview of an overview of the strategies and collaborative initiatives pertinent to Rape and Sexual Crime. It places particular emphasis on statistical data and projects that adopt a victim-centred approach.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 19 March 2025
Date : 19 March 2025
Location : online
Background
In Scotland, rape and sexual offences account for a substantial portion of reported crimes, often disproportionately impacting women and girls in our community. During the period of 01 April 2024–31 December 2024, Police Scotland documented 2,056 reports of rape, which constituted a 20% specific proportion of the total reported Group 2 crimes.
Sexual offences encompass a variety of criminal acts, including non-consensual offences such as rape and sexual assault, as well as crimes that exploit individuals for sexual purposes, whether conducted in physical spaces or facilitated through online platforms.
Criminal offences can manifest between various social relationships, including interactions among strangers, friends, acquaintances, current or former partners, and family members. The elapse of time does not impede the ability to investigate or prosecute such offences. Sexual offences are systematically investigated within the framework of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy.
Through the quarterly and annual performance reporting, Police Scotland continues to publish a large volume of publicly available data relating to rape and sexual crime.
