Specialist sex offences team for south east

"Amethyst" unit to improve coordination between police and Crown in Lothian and Borders

News, 22 October 2007

A multi-agency public protection unit has been set up in Edinburgh to develop specialist expertise in the prosecution of rape and other sexual offences in Lothian and Borders.

Set up earlier this month as part of the area's High Court unit, the "Amethyst" project springs from the recommendations made by the Crown Office's Review of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, published in June 2006. The team has been established as one way in which the fiscal service can implement and reinforce the recommendations in relation to training of staff, and improving communications with the police.

More than 70 staff, including police officers, support staff, senior health officials and social workers, will deal with all aspects of child and vulnerable adult protection, sexual crimes, domestic abuse and sex offenders.

The review was under the charge of the current Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini QC, when she served as Solicitor General. Speaking on a visit to the unit, Ms Angiolini said that the new prosecution team would improve the training provided to depute fiscals working in this sensitive area of crime.

"As a result of the review of rape and sexual offences staff across the prosecution service will be trained to a high standard to ensure a consistent and professional approach to these crimes. The aim is to offer the very best level of service that we can, and prosecute where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.

"Deputes will spend around six months at a time in the sexual offences team, accelerating the experience and training for staff in these areas. This is a very sensitive and emotionally draining area of crime in which to work, and we also have to take into account the welfare of people working in this field."

Detective Chief Inspector Adrian Lawrie of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "This dedicated team will bring huge value to specialist officers working in this sensitive area of criminal investigation, but more importantly also to the victims of these distressing offences.

He added: "We are committed to providing the best service possible to victims and to investigate crime to the best of our ability and we recognise the need to seek improvements to the way in which we work. We are currently working closely with COPFS to implement the recommendations relative to the police from the Sexual Offences Review."

Of the 50 recommendations made by the review, 19 have been so far completed. Implementation of the remainder is scheduled to take place by the end of June 2009.