Scottish Government

The Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, which came into force on 1 December 2010, reforms the law concerning sexual offences, replacing a complex patchwork of common law and statutory provision with a single statutory framework which accurately reflects the values of modern society.

Further provision concerning protecting children from sexual exploitation and the prevention of sexual offences is contained in the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) recently completed implementation of the recommendations contained in their Review of the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences in Scotland. The report made 50 specific recommendations for reform and a 3-year programme to implement these recommendations was completed in June 2009. More information can be found on the COPFS website.

The COPFS review highlighted prevailing attitudes towards survivors of rape held by a significant minority of the public which blame women for their victimisation. The Scottish Government provided funding in 2008/09 to Rape Crisis Scotland to undertake an information campaign designed to help to address public attitudes towards rape.

COPFS have published information on conviction rates for rapes reported between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008. The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2009/10 includes a module on Sexual Victimisation and Stalking. Information on sexual offences tried in Scottish Courts is included in Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts, which is published annually. Statistics concerning sexual offences recorded by the police can be found in Recorded Crime in Scotland

You may also be interested in information on the criminal law on prostitution, human trafficking, stalking and harassment and pornography.