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.

In June 2009, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) completed implementation of the recommendations contained in their Review of the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences in Scotland. More information can be found on the COPFS website.

COPFS have published information on conviction rates for rapes reported between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2009. The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2010/11 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.