CONVICTIONS for rape and attempted rape in Scotland more than doubled in the space of a year – with figures also showing longer jail sentences being imposed on those found guilty.
There were 160 convictions of rape and attempted rape in the courts in 2021-22, the latest statistics from the Scottish Government show, which was up 105 from 78 the previous year.
The figures also show the number of such cases taken to court increased by 123% over the same period, going from 151 to 336.
The rise was recorded as courts across Scotland saw an increase in business as Covid-19 restrictions eased in 2021-22.
The figures show longer custodial sentences are being imposed in rape and attempted rape cases.
In 2021-22, the average prison sentence handed down in such cases was 2572 days – just over seven years – which was up 6% from 2435 days in 2020-21.
Overall, the figures show an increase in court business when comparing the two years, with cases proceeding against 67,643 people in 2021-22 – a rise of 45% from 46,590 the previous year.
Convictions increased by 39% over the same period, from 42,614 to 59,295.
With the increase in convictions smaller than the rise in cases, the conviction rate decreased slightly, going from 91% in 2020-21 to 88% in 2021-22.
This was said to mark a return to pre-pandemic levels, with conviction rates ranging between 86% and 88% between 2012-13 and 2019-20.
Convictions for non-sexual crimes of violence increased by 37%, going from 6608 in 2020-21 to 9068 the following year.
This included a 100% increase in people found guilty of either murder or culpable homicide, rising from 24 to 48.
For cases of serious assault and attempted murder there was a 45% increase from 682 to 992, the data shows.
There was also a 52% increase in convictions for sexual crimes, rising from 841 to 1279.
