Rape convictions: 'A shameful stain on our criminal justice system'

Published on Tuesday 26 May 2009 09:17

THE abysmal conviction rate in rape cases is a shameful stain on Scotland's proud criminal justice system.

Not even three per cent of allegations ends in a guilty verdict. That either means 97 per cent of people – the vast majority of them women – who cry rape are liars or there is something fundamentally wrong with the way the police and courts handle their claims.

Only a fool or the worst kind of misogynist would back the former.

Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini has taken an impressive lead in challenging the failings. When she was Solicitor General she ordered a review of how sexual offences are prosecuted, and 50 recommendations are being implemented, including new specialist rape investigation teams and better training for those who deal with victims.

The Scottish Parliament is also in the final stages of approving laws which will further tighten the law by bringing in new definitions for assaults and, crucially, making it clear that consent to sex must be given freely – and can be taken away at any time.

The moves to protect women are to be applauded, especially given that in the Lothians last year only five out of 170 rape claims sent to prosecutors led to a guilty verdict. The quicker new tougher laws are in force the better.

But will it be enough? Last month Ann Robertson, a witness in a rape trial, was jailed overnight for fleeing the High Court when it all became too much for her. And last Friday cage fighter Edgar Kudzhoyan was jailed for just 30 months after being found guilty of raping a teenager.

All of which suggests that a complete change of culture is needed before Scottish courts give rape victims the justice they deserved. A rethink on our laws on corroboration should be debated as part of that.

They're not all at it

POLITICIANS? They're all at it. After two weeks of extraordinary revelations about MPs' expenses it is easy to descend into cynicism about our "public servants".

There's much to be cynical about after claims for second homes, chandeliers and 250 alarm clocks.

It's refreshing, then, to see that the claims of Lothian councillors actually went down last year. And to note that, after a few high-profile embarrassments, Holyrood's house is in good enough order to be a possible blueprint for a reformed Westminster.

Some are still spending too much of our money, but those who can account for every penny claimed deserve the benefit of the doubt.