A 57% increase in Angus rape and attempted rape has prompted questions over whether the area is in the grip of a culture of “toxic masculinity”.
The “depressing” rise means the district’s rate of the most serious sexual offences per 10,000 population is higher than both Dundee and Perth and Kinross.
And the shock figures have prompted one leading campaigner to call on Angus Council colleagues to call out behaviours which initiatives like Police Scotland’s Don’t Be That Guy and the current 16 Days of Activism aim to tackle.
But Tayside’s top policeman says he will be okay with seeing the figure rise further if it means more reporting because they are getting their message across.
And Chief Superintendent Phil Davidson said there has already been an “overwhelming” response to the That Guy campaign since its launch six weeks ago.
Worrying trends
The rape data was presented to Angus scrutiny committee councillors as part of a Police Scotland report on local crime rates between April and September.
- Sexual offences overall were higher than 2021/2022, with 216 offences representing 58 more crimes.
- It is a 36% spike in comparison to last year and a 23% increase on the five-year average.
- Recorded rape and attempted rape crimes were also significantly higher.
- An increase of 24 is double the number reported last year and a 57% rise on the five-year average.
- The Angus rate of rape or attempted rate of 18.6 per 10,000 population is ahead of both Dundee (15.7) and Perth and Kinross (13.4), as well as the Scottish average (13.3).
- The Angus detection rate for 2022/23 is just 25% compared to 47.8% last year. Perth and Kinross is 80% for this year and Dundee 67.6%
Councillor’s concern
Kirriemuir and Dean SNP Councillor Julie Bell called the rape figure “concerning”.
“What is it about the situation in Angus that presents this as such a problem?” she asked the top officer.
“Is there a particular issue around toxic masculinity in Angus that is the reason that these figures are really quite depressing; that despite all the campaigns we have been running we don’t seem to be making massive inroads into behaviour change?
“We need to build healthier relationships that people can talk about rather than resorting to violence of some sort.”
Chief Superintendent’s response
Tayside commander Mr Davison said the background to the figures was a “challenging” area, but he assured councillors the gender-based violence campaigns are having a positive impact.
“We are really trying hard to encourage reporting and have seen significant successes, particularly in Angus.
“Equally, if we do get increased historical reporting that has a knock-on on the figures.
“It is the complexity of getting that balance of whether it is a positive because of the success in terms of reporting, or if it is an offender profile change.”
He said there were a number of repeat sexual offenders in Angus.
“There are a whole host of factors at play,” he said.
“It has been a bit overwhelming the response we have had to That Guy campaign and the 16 Days.
That Guy was launched by Police Scotland in October.
It puts the onus on men to step in if their friends engage in harassing behaviour against women.
“The more we can raise awareness of those then the more we will probably see an increase in figures for a while,” said the Chief Superintendent.
“But I am okay with that, it is for the greater, longer good.”
Ms Bell said: “I am frustrated we’re not making deeper inroads into stopping it happen in the first place, but I think that’s a very long road ahead.
“I want to ask every colleague here to challenge gender-based violence if they come across it.
“We all have a role in fixing it.”
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