Scotland‘s Top Law Official Assures Protections for Rape Victims Following Landmark Ruling
Edinburgh – Scotland’s Lord Advocate, the legal director of the Crown Office, affirmed that a recent court ruling will not automatically invalidate existing sexual assault convictions, but each case will be reviewed individually. The statement comes amid concerns raised by victim support groups about the potential impact of the judgment on future prosecutions and victims’ willingness to come forward.
The ruling has sparked debate regarding the handling of sexual history evidence in court. Sandy Brindley, chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, warned last week the judgment could be a “real step backwards,” perhaps discouraging reporting due to the possibility of victims’ sexual history being scrutinized. “The possibility of having your sexual history dragged up in court really could put women off reporting. I think there is a real worry about what does this mean for future cases and women’s confidence in the justice process in Scotland,” Brindley said.
The advancement occurs as the Scottish Parliament moves to abolish the “not proven” verdict – a unique legal outcome believed to contribute to Scotland’s lower rape conviction rates - as part of broader justice reforms aimed at prioritizing victims and witnesses.The parliament voted to abolish the verdict on September 17, 2025.
