Scotland National Rape Crisis Helpline launched

Scotland will pioneer the first national rape helpine to offer support and information to anyone affected by sexual violence. The Scottish national rape helpline which is being launched today will provide support to victims and help for friends and relatives. The Rape Crisis Scotland helpline will be open seven days a week from 6pm until midnight. The freephone number is 08088 01 03 02.

Neither Scotland or the rest of the UK currently have a national helpline. Current funding levels only allow volunteers to handle phone lines for a few hours two or three days a week. This poor provision was despite the fact that reported rapes north of the Border had risen 8-per cent.

Women who were desperately in need of advice and support often had to leave messages on the answerphones because the helplines were not open. It was feared that this could be deterring women from reporting crimes such as domestic abuse cases.

Scotland's conviction rate for rape is among of the worst in Europe at approx 4-per cent. Reported rapes rose from 596 in 1997-98 to 900 in 2004-05 an 8-per cent increase.