RAPE Crisis Scotland say they’re concerned at new Police Scotland figures showing a 46 per cent increase in the number of rapes against women over 16.

A summary report to go in front of the Scottish Police Authority later today shows, rape, as a whole, up 23 per cent, to 561 for the first quarter of 2017-2018, between April and June.

Indecent and sexual assault is up 7.6 per cent to 1153.

Though non-recent rapes, anything older than a year ago, account for 38.7 per cent of all those recorded, the figures makes for grim reading.

There was some good news with rape detection rate up 5.1 per cent to 54 per cent but Rape Crisis Scotland said the statistics were “significant”.

In the report, the force say the reasons for the rise are “complex”, and readily acknowledge, that if anything, the numbers under-report the reality, but they add there is clearly “greater victim confidence” with more people coming forward.

There has also been an increase in the number of people coming to police within 48 hours of being rapes, the highest recorded since 2013/14.

Eileen Maitland for Rape Crisis Scotland told The National: “A rise of 46 per cent in the number of rapes against women over 16 is significant. It is always difficult to know exactly what the reasons are for such a rise. While it may be that this is indicative of an increased willingness among survivors to report what has happened to them because they feel more confident in the response they will receive from the police, it’s equally possible that a larger number of crimes has been perpetrated.

“Either way, sexual offences can have a devastating impact and there is no room for complacency. It’s vital that efforts to improve the criminal justice response to sexual crimes continue so that survivors can come forward with justified confidence and report what has happened to them.

“The criminal justice system must also act as a credible deterrent to potential perpetrators, and every effort must be made to look at changing the attitudes and other factors which contribute to these crimes, and to make meaningful change through prevention work and campaigning.”

A force spokesman said: "Police Scotland fully acknowledges there is under-reporting of all forms of sexual crime.

“The percentage of rapes reported within 0-2 days has increased to the highest recorded level. This is very encouraging and ensures that victims receive early support, evidential opportunities are maximised and perpetrator risk can be quickly assessed and managed.”

The Scottish Government said: “Crime in Scotland is at a 42-year low and the long-term trend in non-sexual violent crime remains downward, with rates substantially below a decade ago.

“We’ll continue to maintain intelligent, targeted education and enforcement to prevent and tackle offending, including crimes of violence.”

In his report to the authority, Chief Constable Phil Gormley warned of gang trouble in the west coast, saying feuds between organised crime groups (OCGs) were on the rise.

In total Police Scotland recorded 447,652 incidents, an increase of 3.7 per cent. There was a slight rise in domestic abuse, and overall violent crime. Though murder is down 44.4 per cent, attempted murder is up 21.2 per cent.

In his report, chief constable Phil Gormley said this is down to feuds between rival gangs across the Central Belt.

“There are clear fractures between and within the OCGs which has led to significant acts of violence.”