Reports of historic rape are continuing to climb in Fife in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, The Courier can reveal.
The Courier reported last year that cases had doubled across Fife and risen by 120% in Tayside in the previous year as more historic victims seek justice. There had also been a steep rise in Forth Valley.
The latest figures for Fife show 49% of sexual offence charges being investigated between April 1 2013 to February 28 this year were for crimes committed in previous years.
Officers say the high-profile exposure of Operation Yewtree cases going back decades has prompted people in the area to feel they will finally have their own cases investigated and brought to court.
Police Scotland’s Fife Division local divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Garry McEwan, said: “A number of high-profile UK wide investigations such as that involving Jimmy Savile have brought the issue of sexual abuse and, in particular, historic sexual abuse into sharp focus.
“I believe these national inquiries have contributed significantly to an increase of local reporting by encouraging victims to come forward and report offences that have been committed against them.
“We can see this in the fact that 437 of the 893 recorded sexual offence charges related to crimes committed in previous years, which is 49% of the total.”
Mr McEwan said crimes of indecency in Fife are up from 519 to 893.
These figures primarily relate to offences occurring behind closed doors within people’s homes and include rape, indecent assault and other sexual offences.
He said that if this fact was taken on its own merit it would be extremely alarming.
However, he said this increase is a consequence of a number of factors, including greater public confidence to report such matters.
This, he said, was in part due to the additional focus given to this area of work, as shown by the creation of the Fife Divisional Rape Investigation Unit (DRIU).
Mr McEwan encouraged previous victims who might be remaining silent to take the important and often difficult first step of contacting the police or Women’s Aid to speak with someone who understands.
He added: “I would seek to assure anyone who reports such crimes that they will be treated seriously and a thorough investigation will be carried out, regardless of how long ago they occurred, or whom the suspect is”.
Mr McEwan also highlighted the increasing use and availability of mobile phones and computer systems, which had resulted in a rise of the reporting of sexual cybercrimes.
He said one recent incident generated more than 100 charges on its own.
He continued: “This development is a reflection of today’s society and sadly, it is unlikely to show a reduction in the near future.
“However, it is important to realise that while reports of sexual crime have increased these are, in the main, not random attacks on members of the public as they go about their daily business on the streets of Fife.
“Rather, these are acts of violence more often than not committed in a domestic setting, the very place we should be safest.
“It is essential children and adults being subject to this abuse are protected.
“If you recognise yourself as being in this position, or have a family member or friend who is suffering in this way, phone the police on 101, tell us about it and we will act quickly, robustly and sensitively.”
Savile died in October 2011 and his catalogue of sex crimes was later uncovered by Operation Yewtree, which has also investigated other high profile personalities.