Increase in sex crimes is proof we must continue to improve, says police chief

A 45% increase in reported sexual offences over the last decade is evidence the force must continue to improve its response to such cases, Police Scotland’s chief constable has said.

Speaking at a Scottish Police Authority board meeting on Thursday, Jo Farrell condemned “vile” grooming gangs and stressed the force’s determination to stamp them out and bring perpetrators to justice.

She said: “Instances where young people, vulnerable young people, are victims of group-based child sexual exploitation rightly appal communities.

“Preventing this vile offending – groups of men targeting and trafficking children for sexual abuse – and bringing perpetrators to justice sits right at the core of my motivation as a police officer and the entire mission of Police Scotland to keep people safe.

“The threat and challenge has developed, with increasing reported child sexual abuse and exploitation and globally connected and digitally enabled offenders operating in the online space, with a 20% year-on-year increase in reported online child sexual abuse.

“I have been explicit about the duty on policing to build capability and capacity to address this harm online and in the physical space.

“I’ve discussed child sexual exploitation, and we have noted a long-term increase in sexual offences up 45% in the last 10 years.

“This is evidence that we must continue to improve our response to violence against women and girls.”

She said safeguarding young people lies at the “heart of community policing”, and highlighted how police in Scotland have been able to have such perpetrators convicted and deported – but she noted such successes have come in at a “limited number”.

She cited Baroness Louise Casey’s audit into the scale of grooming gangs, released in June, and said Police Scotland’s National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group is looking for new ways to improve its capabilities, while taking the audit into consideration.

The National Crime Agency’s Operation Beaconport examines cases where alleged grooming gang suspects had no further action taken against them, and the chief constable said Police Scotland is looking at such instances.

She said: “We are identifying crimes recorded between January 2013 and the present which involve one or more victims and two or more suspects and where the victim is under the age of 18.

“Following investigation, a number of these crimes were reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and, as described, some have resulted in criminal justice outcomes.

“Others, for example in relation to reports involving young people as the offender and the victim, may have been progressed through other routes, for example the Children’s Reporter.

“Of crimes which fit the criteria mentioned and which remain unsolved, we continue to be in contact with Operation Beaconport to assist with a UK law enforcement approach and understanding and provide additional, independent ratification around further investigative opportunities.

“Should the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service request any further investigation of matters previously reported, we will undertake those inquiries.”

It comes after the Scottish Government said on Tuesday there was an 25% increase in the number of rape and attempted rape reports over the last four years alone.

In the past year, reports of sexual crimes have increased by 7%, including a 24% rise in offences involving indecent photos of children.