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
Initial Briefing Report
The recording of rape and sexual crimes is evolving, especially with police-issued mobile devices. This technology offers benefits and challenges for Police Scotland's ability to document and preserve evidence accurately. The Initial Briefing Report (IBR) is designed to gather essential information early in investigations, ensuring optimal evidence collection. This information will be evaluated by the relevant department before the case is assigned to a Sexual Offences Liaison Officer (SOLO). The IBR is crucial to the evidentiary chain and must be submitted as part of the investigative process.
SCD NPP have developed a concept for an application that operates on police handheld devices within the framework of the crime recording system. This application is designed to feature a newly developed initial briefing report, which allows officers to input specific details about crimes directly into their devices, thereby eliminating the need for paper forms.
The application presents numerous advantages, including the facilitation of remote work for officers, the acceleration of document processing, and the support of ongoing developmental initiatives. Additionally, it promotes a more environmentally sustainable approach that adheres to accessibility standards. Another key objective of the application is to foster confidence and trust among victims of sexual crimes by ensuring that their initial disclosures to Police Scotland are systematically recorded, securely stored, and protected from misplacement. The IBR is critical for maintaining the integrity of evidence throughout the investigative process. This work is currently in the pipeline and will likely be in place by the summer of 2025.
