Tayside’s top police officer has lamented the loss of funding to a service supporting at-risk sex workers.
The comments came as Police Scotland reported a drop in rape detection and reporting of sexual crimes in Dundee.
In a report to be presented to Dundee City Council’s Community Safety and Public Protection committee on Monday, Chief Superintendent Andrew Todd will confirm the force faced a 21.7% year-on-year reduction in rape detection between April and September.
Officers recorded 48 fewer sexual crimes during the period, a 16.9% drop on the previous year, despite a leading women’s charity reporting that referrals to its services have gone “absolutely through the roof”.
Police Scotland defended its record on rape detection in Tayside in 2017 after rates fell off by more than a quarter on the previous year.
Writing in a report to the committee this week, Mr Todd said: “Kerb crawling and prostitution reports have increased in recent months in the Maryfield Ward.
“Unfortunately with the loss of funding to Vice Versa, who were actively engaged with these women and supporting them, the community officers are attempting to tackle
these issues by working with the anti-social behaviour team, balancing the needs of their vulnerability along with the complaints of ASB from local residents.
“ASBO warnings have been issued to kerb crawlers and prostitutes and liaison is ongoing through community safety, Procurator Fiscal and other partner agencies to ensure these women can be supported following any arrest or prosecution.”
Mr Todd’s statement comes just two months after Dundee and Angus Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (WRASAC) announced it may be forced to axe Vice Versa at the end of the year due to a lack of funding.
The service supported 126 women involved in prostitution between April 2015 and March this year, including 24 who were sexually exploited as a child or young person and 21 who had been raped.
Dundee WRASAC manager Sinead Daly confirmed she intends to speak to police and the Procurator Fiscal about the findings given the increase in women seeking the centre’s sexual crime services.
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She said: “For ourselves, our referrals are absolutely through the roof and we know that most of those women will not report it to police.
“We are constantly looking at ways to improve detection and conviction rates, and to improve the experience of those who are reporting. I think we need to work in partnership to try and achieve that, and to make sure justice is seen to be done.
“Dundee has one of the highest reported rates of sexual assault anywhere in Scotland. The fact that Vice Versa may not be here on January 1 is extremely worrying and should be a concern for everyone in the city.”
The report also notes that Dundee will later this month become the first area in Scotland to roll out Ask for Angela, a scheme offering training so individuals meeting strangers from dating sites will be able to approach bar staff for help if they feel at risk.
