- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to publicise Sexual Abuse Awareness Month in September 2002.
Answer
The Scottish Executive welcomes the fact that local agencies involved in Sexual Abuse Awareness Month are planning a range of events and publicity. We recognise the importance of raising awareness of sexual abuse. We recently issued a research report Beyond Trauma: Mental Health Care Needs of Women Who Survived Childhood Sexual Abuse to health and social care agencies asking them to respond positively to its recommendations for service improvements. In addition we have awarded funding of £120,000 over three years to the Moira Anderson Foundation to help raise awareness of sexual abuse.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 August 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 2 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27353 by Mr Jim Wallace on 1 August 2002, whether a copy of the strategic assessment and guidance document produced by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency will be made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
It is not our intention to publish either the strategic assessment of drug-assisted sexual assault or the guide for investigators produced by the working group led by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency. Both documents contain sensitive information inappropriate for the public domain.We will, however, draw upon the information in these documents to assist us with the development of new public information materials on drug-assisted sexual assault, as part of our Know the Score Drugs Communications Strategy. Copies of these materials will be sent to the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 30 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what is meant by high, medium and low risk as detailed in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
This is the measure against which an assessment can be made of the level of risk an offender being at large presents to the public. Under the arrangements proposed in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, if an offender is convicted of a relevant offence and is assessed as high risk against the prescribed risk criteria then the court must impose the new sentence of an order for lifelong restriction. The bill also provides for the new Risk Management Authority to produce standards and guidelines to support the risk assessment process.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 26 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out specifically on the investigation, prosecution and conviction of rape cases in Scotland.
Answer
No further research has been carried out by the Scottish Executive specifically on the investigation, prosecution and conviction of rape cases in Scotland since the Jamieson and Burman report The Attrition of Sexual Offences in the Criminal Justice System was completed in 1999.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 26 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will follow up on the recommendation to complete a more detailed study into the reasons for the low prosecution and conviction rates for rape, made in the pilot study The 'Attrition` of Sexual Offences in the Criminal Justice System, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
We are reviewing the need for more detailed research in this area. In the meantime we hope that the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) Act 2002, which will be brought into force before the end of the year, will improve the way in which complainers in sex offence cases are treated in court. The impact of the act will be monitored through separate research in due course.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 15 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Prison Service intends to follow the good practice guidelines on working with perpetrators of violence against women developed by RESPECT in April 2001 when developing custodial programmes for men convicted of violence against their partners.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:We are currently investigating the acquisition of programmes for men convicted of violence. Our wish to follow good practice as set out in the "What Works" literature are similar to the guidelines developed by RESPECT, so far as these are relevant to the custodial setting. We will also take advice from the Scottish Executive Partnership Group on the implementation of domestic abuse programmes in order to liaise with the complementary work required in the community in regard of Women's Services and Child Protection issues.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 15 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the introduction of the European Convention on Human Rights has had on the way cases of domestic abuse are dealt with by all organisations who have contact with victims of domestic abuse.
Answer
The Scottish Executive takes a positive and proactive approach to human rights. Public bodies in Scotland also have a duty to comply with their obligations under the Human Rights Act. Whilst the primary responsibility remains with public bodies themselves, we are taking steps to support them in understanding and implementing those duties.We have already provided general guidance to Scottish public bodies. We intend to issue additional guidance during the course of the next year and are also seeking to re-establish and further develop the human rights forum for public bodies which was previously run by COSLA.Information on the specific issue raised is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 15 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will involve the Rape Crisis Network or other organisations involved in working with victims of sexual assault in providing information, guidance and training to prosecutors and the judiciary.
Answer
Judicial education is a matter for the independent Judicial Studies Committee who propose to run courses and provide material on sexual crimes and procedure to coincide with the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act. I have drawn the terms of your question to the attention of the Director of Judicial Studies. From time to time visiting speakers make contributions to training sessions but it is for the committee to decide when this should happen. The Rape Crisis Network (RCN) and Scottish Women's Aid (SWA) together with other victims organisations are involved in on-going Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service training. The RCN and SWA, in particular, give training and valuable insight into numerous aspects of sexual assaults and domestic abuse. Their input has also informed the guidance in relation to domestic abuse and dealing with victims of sexual offences, including rape, that is circulated and available to all prosecutors.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 15 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to the police regarding the investigation of alleged sexual assaults.
Answer
Departmental guidance has been issued to Chief Constables on the Investigation of Complaints of Sexual Assault and covers related matters such as medical examinations, the importance of using experienced female interviewing officers, and developing in-force training, with the purpose of producing an atmosphere of care and concern. The importance and sensitivity of violence against woman has long been recognised by the police and the Scottish Executive but it is for individual Chief Constables to make local arrangements for dealing with victims. Chief Constables are expected to do their utmost to ensure that victims of rape and sexual assault are treated with tact and sympathy. Local procedures, which have been put in place by Chief Constables, will have regard to this guidance and other relevant guidance and reports, for example on domestic violence and vulnerable and intimidated witnesses.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 15 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted for rape in each of the last five years had previous convictions.
Answer
The information available is shown in the following table.
Persons With a Charge Proved Where Main Crime Was Rape, 1996 to 2000 |
Year | Total number | Number with 1 or more previous convictions1 | % with 1 or more previous convictions |
1996 | 33 | 22 | 67 |
1997 | 29 | 16 | 48 |
1998 | 37 | 25 | 76 |
1999 | 27 | 14 | 42 |
2000 | 27 | 18 | 55 |
Notes:1. Convictions in Scottish Courts since 1989 for all crimes within groups 1-5 of the Scottish Executive Justice Department's classification of crimes and offences and the common law offences of simple assault and breach of the peace.