Number of reported sexual assaults in Angus rises by a third

The number of reported sexual assaults in Angus has gone up by a third, according to new statistics.

A Freedom of Information request to Police Scotland has revealed local officers received 37 allegations of rape or attempted rape last year up from 25 the year before.

The number of reported rapes concerning Angus children also increased from three victims aged under 16 in 2012 to 10 last year.

Across Tayside, 179 victims reported sexual assault allegations to the police an increase of 63 cases from the previous year.

At least 12 of the acts of sexual violence alleged in Angus last year remain undetected, while four cases were classed as “no crime”.

However, a police spokeswoman said that classification does not necessarily mean a sexual assault had not been committed.

Eileen Maitland of Rape Crisis Scotland said: “Rape is a crime which can have a devastating impact and mean many different things for survivors, both in terms of responses to what has happened, and in the length of time it can take to start coming to terms with it.”

The national support service offers a free and confidential helpline between 6pm and midnight each day on 08088 010302.