Help for victims of sexual crime
Information about the help on offer to those who have been a victim of a serious sexual assault.
On this page:
The only person to blame for sexual offending is the perpetrator.
We work closely with Rape Crisis and the National Advocacy Project. They give support to survivors of sexual crime. This includes people who have either reported, or are thinking of reporting, a sexual crime.
Advice
We recognise how difficult it can be to report sexual crime. Our officers are here to help and support you.
If you have been raped or sexually assaulted:
- You do not have to cope on your own
- There are many support services that can help you
- Officers know how difficult it is for people to report rape, they will respect you and believe you
- You are not to blame, the person who raped or assaulted you is to blame.
If you have not reported, then please consider doing so. Our officers have been trained and can assist you. Your complaint will be taken seriously.
How Police Scotland can help
Sexual crime can have a devastating affect. We support those who have suffered.
- We have a National Rape Task Force and Rape Investigation Units in each division across Scotland that investigates rape and serious sexual crime
- We will thoroughly investigate every report of rape no more matter when it happened
- We will deal with your report sensitively and thoroughly, no-one should feel guilty or embarrassed about reporting a crime of rape
- We offer support in a professional and compassionate manner as the crime is investigated
- We will offer you all available support
- We will help put you in contact with our partners including Assist, Women’s Aid, White Ribbon Scotland and Rape Crisis Scotland.
Police Scotland has established a National Rape Task Force.
This includes Rape Investigation Units in each of the 13 local divisions across Scotland. These units are led by Detective Inspectors and staffed by trained officers.
Call us on 101 or contact the Rape Crisis Scotland National Helpline on 08088 01 03 02 (daily 6pm-12 midnight). In an emergency always call 999.
Related links
- Domestic Abuse
- National Gender Based Violence & Health Programme
- NHS Forth Valley - Gender Based Violence
- NHS Lothian - Gender Based Violence
- NHS Highland - Violence Against Women
- Central Sexual Health
- Scottish Women's Aid
- Victim Support Scotland
- Rape Crisis Centre Glasgow
NHS Scotland provide dedicated Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCS) throughout Scotland.
'Archway' currently provides a service to Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire, Argyle and Bute, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. They can be contacted on 0141 211 8175.
Additional SARCS are available within the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Grampian, Highland, Lothian, Orkney, Shetland, Tayside and Western Isles areas. Self-referrals can be arranged via contacting the phone service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 148 88 88.
Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.
