Published: Thursday, 8th March, 2007 09:52
Outrage over rape reports
By Rachel Lamb and Frances Ridge
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A DATE–RAPE support group have revealed that cases referred to them from the Helensburgh area are on the rise.
But the charity’s spokeswoman yesterday (Wednesday) claimed that sensationalised media coverage on the issue has done nothing to help the victims.
Jean Cumming, director of Crisis, the Scottish branch of The Roofie Foundation, told the Advertiser: “I’m really distressed at how the media has portrayed this information.
`They focus on one thing and don’t look at the bigger picture. That affects people’s livelihoods and upsets the victims.
“We are not out to have a go at anyone. What we are saying is that the problem exists and that it is not just happening to people who are drunk or binge drinking.”
Alison Barr, from Rape Crisis Scotland said police figures did not suggest that date-rape is on the rise in the Burgh.
She added: “We currently support a number of women in the Helensburgh area who are survivors of rape or sexual assault and to our knowledge, none of these women have reported drug-assisted rape.”
Crisis runs a date–rape hot-line and provides trauma services and follow up care to victims of the most serious cases of rape and sexual assault.
Counsellors at the Erskine-based charity deal with around 100 people each year.
Jean said: “Last year, there were three places that stood out because the number of people contacting us from those areas was higher. They were Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Helensburgh, in that order.
`The truth is, we have had quite a lot of calls from Helensburgh, for us it’s a hot spot.
“Our trauma counsellors deal with about 100 people a year, and out of that 100, maybe 10 could be from Helensburgh, but that is 10 too many. It is a small number but these are very serious cases.
“It is a growing problem but we are looking at preventative measures. We are not accusing anybody of anything, particularly not the pub and club owners in Helensburgh. We know licensees don’t want their customers to become targets.`
“It is very important that everybody works together on this. We would like to work alongside licensees and the police in order to protect people and make sure drink spiking doesn’t happen in the first place.
`The safe environment that people create around themselves is all that’s needed.”
Strathclyde Police were unable to provide a comment on the Roofie Foundation's report as the Advertiser went to press.
Representatives from the Helensburgh Pubwatch organisation declined to comment.
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