This aim of this inspection was to assess the state, effectiveness and efficiency of Police Scotland’s approach to the investigation of rape. Whilst we have examined the investigative approach through the lens of local policing in Fife, we have also had regard to the national approach to rape investigation through an examination of the interaction between local officers in Fife Division and the National Rape Taskforce (NRTF).
Our inspection forms part of our published scrutiny plan and was conducted as a pilot to test our methodology of the Local Policing+ inspection programme, whilst at the same time undertaking an evidence-led inspection of Fife Division. Our approach to Local Policing+ inspections provides an opportunity to assess the quality of local policing across Scotland and enables us to publicly report on how Police Scotland is delivering against local priorities and keeping people safe. Our findings from the overarching Local Policing inspection in Fife Division are subject of a separate report which is available on our HMICS website.
Our programme provides flexibility to scrutinise new and emerging issues affecting policing in Scotland. These issues are identified through a process of stakeholder engagement and informed by our scrutiny risk assessment. Given the significant rise in the number of rapes recorded within Fife Division during 2013-14, we decided that it would be an opportune moment to inspect the investigative approach to rape in Fife.
Number | Recommendation |
|---|---|
1 | Police Scotland should commission further research and analysis to better understand the local variations in rape reporting across Scotland. |
2 | Police Scotland should review the national cadre of Sexual Offences Liaison Officers against current and projected demand to ensure there is sufficient capacity and resilience. |
3 | Police Scotland should develop measures which promote preventative outcomes for rape and sexual offences. |
4 | Police Scotland should work with its criminal justice partners and rape victim advocacy services to develop joint approaches which measure victim confidence and satisfaction throughout the various stages of the criminal justice process. |
5 | Police Scotland should extend the scope of the National Rape Review Team to a more qualitative role that is intelligence and risk-led. |
6 | Police Scotland should engage with rape victim advocacy services to develop an approach to engaging with non-recent victims of rape which balances the needs of the victim with the pursuit of public protection. |
7 | Police Scotland should undertake a training needs analysis for the National Rape Review Team to ensure staff have the necessary range of specialist skills and competencies to conduct investigative reviews. |
8 | Police Scotland should review the management structures for the National Rape Taskforce and the Domestic Abuse Taskforce to establish whether there are policy and operational benefits in bringing them both under the professional management of the public protection portfolio. |