Sexual crimes have soared across the north-east in the last year, according to the latest Scottish Government figures.
Offences such as rape and attempted rape, and sexual assault have all increased in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
North East MSP Tess White has condemned the numbers of cases as “truly horrifying” and is calling for more to be done to prevent sex offences against women.
The new figures published by the Scottish Government show by the end of September 2022, there had been a total of 833 sexual crimes recorded by the police in Aberdeen.
This is a 15% rise compared to 2021 when 726 crimes were recorded in the city.
There were 113 rapes and attempted rapes recorded, which was a 20% rise compared to 2021, while sexual assaults in the area increased by 21% to 274.
The possession of indecent images of children recorded decreased to 40 cases a reduction of 27% from 2021.
Meanwhile, in Aberdeenshire, the total number of sexual crimes recorded by the police rose to 636, which was a 20% rise from 529 in the previous year.
The number of rapes and attempted rapes rose to 95, an 44% increase from the previous year.
Sexual assaults also increased by 26% to 204 cases, meanwhile, the possession of indecent images of children rose by 35% to 54 cases and countless victims.
‘Every single one of these cases is one too many’
Following the new figures, Ms White is once again pushing for a Victims Law to “give women the voice they deserve”.
The Victims Law would make seven key changes to the justice system, including abolishing the controversial Not Proven verdict, which has been criticised as giving no closure to victims of crimes.
The new figures follow previous warnings from Ms White, who also met with transport minister Jenny Gilruth after sexual assaults on Scottish rails hit a 10-year high.
The MSP said: “These figures are truly horrifying and every single one of these cases is one too many.
“It’s sickening that women in the north-east are now more at risk of being victims of sexual crimes than they were before.
“The SNP’s soft touch justice approach is failing to keep Scotland safe and is instead putting the interests of criminals ahead of those of their victims.
“We need to give women the voice they deserve which is why I fully back Scottish Conservative plans for a Victims Law. It will give victims the power to make statements in court and scrap the not proven verdict, which has often let down victims in sexual assault cases.”
Ms White is also calling on the Scottish Government to change the law to prevent convicted sex offenders from changing their names.
Mixed success reducing sexual crime rates across the north and islands
Moray
- 306 total sexual crimes recorded – 7% increase
- 54 rapes and attempted rapes – 32% increase
- 122 sexual assaults – 22% increase
Highland
- 600 total sexual crimes recorded – 17% increase
- 142 rapes and attempted rapes – 21% increase
- 195 sexual assaults – 30% increase
Orkney Islands
- 98 total sexual crimes recorded – 17% increase
- 13 rapes and attempted rapes – 18% increase
- 29 sexual assaults – 38% increase
Western Isles
- 40 total sexual crimes recorded – 38% decrease
- Nine rapes and attempted rapes – no change
- Nine sexual assaults – 64% decrease
Shetland Islands
- 51 total sexual crimes recorded – 30% decrease
- Four rapes and attempted rapes – 81% decrease
- 20 sexual assaults – 29% decrease
Scottish Government has taken ‘robust action’
A Scottish Government spokeswoman stressed recorded that overall crime has fallen by 42% over the last year.
However, some types of crime, including sexual, have seen an increase in the number of offences reported to police.
She said: “The Scottish Government has taken robust action to help justice agencies tackle sexual offending by improving and making much clearer the operation of our sexual offence laws, providing the necessary funding to support law enforcement efforts to deal with sexual offending and by encouraging more victims of recent and historical cases to come forward.
“Our Victim Centred Approach Fund will provide £48 million to 23 organisations across Scotland over the period of 2022/25.
“This includes £18.5m for specialist advocacy support for survivors of gender-based violence.”
Rape Crisis Scotland provides a confidential short-term helpline to people who have been affected by sexual violence.
Conversation