TWENTY-FIVE rapes were reported in Inverclyde over the past year, it has been revealed.

The figures from Police Scotland detail the number of attacks from April 2013 until this May.

Victim Support Scotland, which has a free and confidential service in all 32 Scottish local authority areas, today said the Inverclyde statistics mirrored those across the country, showing an increase, for example, over the festive period.

A spokesman for Victim Support said part of the explanation for an overall rise in reported rapes was that more attention was now being paid to the offence by both the police and Scottish Government.

He said: “There is now total recognition of the seriousness of these offences.

“We believe it is in the public interest, and in the interest of victims and families, that any offences — and in particular serious sexual crimes — are reported with a view to bringing those responsible before the courts.

“The complicating factors are that there has to be corroboration and a willingness to give evidence.

“But the focus of the police is leading to more cases being reported and prosecuted.” The reported figures for Inverclyde are: April - 2; May - 2; June - 0; July - 1; August - 2; September - 1; October - 1; November - 1; December - 3; January - 5; February - 0; March - 4; April - 2; May - 1.

In the first full year of Scotland’s single police force, the number of alleged rapes being reported increased by more than a fifth to almost 1,700, while the level of sexual crimes recorded rose by 11.8 per cent.

Detective Superintendent Louise Raphael, head of Police Scotland’s new National Rape Task Force, said the figures should be treated cautiously.

She said: “This data shows when crimes were reported to us, and not necessarily when they were committed.” Det Supt Raphael said the statistics could include multiple crimes reported by a single person over a long period of time.

She said: “We also know that about 36 per cent of rapes reported to us were a year or more old.” The officer added that the police want to see more reporting, so that they can properly understand the nature and causes of the crime.

New risk assessment questionnaires for those suffering domestic abuse are said to have encouraged many victims to come forward.