BBC Radio Scotland Investigation Monday 7th

Tomorrow morning there is a radio programme on at 9 a.m. on Radio Scotland. This is the focus:

09:00–10:00 Morning Extra on BBC Radio Scotland
07/09/2009
Eamonn O'Neill asks why Scotland has so few successful rape prosecutions.

I was asked to take part in this programme a few weeks ago and we recorded at the Rape Crisis Centre in Dumfries a couple of weeks ago. It was a hard interview to do. One of the hardest I've done for a while. Eamonn, being an investigative journalist, asked some very intensive questions. After two hours I came out exhausted and was re-shaken and stirred by many horrible memories. I think it was hard for the producer too, who was superb as she recorded the conversation between Eamonn and myself.

So why do this? I do these things to try and bring the problem of the abysmally low rape conviction rate to the attention of the wider public. Along with the other people who have been interviewed for this programme I hope it can only do good. The current rate for rape prosecutions is around 2.9% in Scotland. I feel that unless people like myself, who have been through the system of criminal investigations and court, speak up then things will never change for the better and the conviction rates are likely to remain horribly low. That means more victims are left without any sense of justice and that more rapists go free. That is they go free to potentially rape again.

I don't know how the format will pan out on the programme tomorrow, but I will be listening to find out what happens and how listeners respond.