Police retrain to aid victims of sex crimes

POLICE officers in Scotland are to be retrained in the way they deal with rape victims in a bid to improve sex crime conviction rates, it was reported today.

Fewer than one in 30 rapes reported in Scotland currently leads to a conviction, the lowest figure on record, and while there were 1000 more sex crimes committed last year compared with a decade ago, there were only four more convictions.

The Association of Chief Police Officers now plans to introduce extra tuition for frontline officers and civilian workers to make sure they are able to handle these crimes correctly.

Lothian and Borders Police Deputy Chief Constable Tom Halpin said: “ACPOS is conducting a wholesale review of training provided to officers who deal with sex crimes, to ensure the specialist skills required in respect of victim support, as well as crime investigation, are adequately met.

“Awareness training will shortly be delivered across Scotland to assist in equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to deal with victims in a sensitive and effective manner.”