​Rape Crisis Scotland and the prosecution service will work together

A charity is joining with Scotland’s prosecution service to obtain feedback from victims of sexual crime about their experience of the justice system.

Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) have agreed to work together to improve how people are treated.

Under the new agreement RCS will share anonymous feedback on victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system and their views on the service provided by COPFS.

This information, only provided with the victim’s consent, will be used to identify ways COPFS can improve the service provided to victims of sexual crime.

The feedback will cover the way the process was explained, how information was shared and, where relevant, the person’s experience in court. Victims will also be asked if anything could have been done better by COPFS.

Sandy Brindley, the head of Rape Crisis Scotland, said: ”We are delighted to work with the Crown Office to develop a systemic approach to obtaining feedback from complainers. This is a very positive development, which will ensure that the experience and views of sexual offence complainers are fed directly into the prosecution process.”

Lord Advocate James Wolffe added: “We cannot bring the perpetrators of sexual crime to justice unless victims come forward and speak up. That is why we value the work of Rape Crisis Scotland and other organisations which provide support to victims.

“That is why we have revised our own victim strategy and want to continue to improve the service which we provide. These arrangements for obtaining feedback from victims on a more systematic basis will help us to do that.”