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Your safety
If you have been raped or sexually assaulted you may be frightened, whether or not you have reported the assault and whether or not the attacker has been caught.
You have a right to feel safe in your own home, in your neighbourhood and at work.
If you are frightened, there may be things you can do to feel safer. We give some suggestions below. But it is important that you do what feels right for you.
Your attacker may have threatened to harm you or someone you are close to if you tell anyone what happened. You may also be worried about any friends or associates of the attacker or other people in your community.
If you do not want to report your attacker because they or someone else has threatened to harm you if you do, it is better that the police know this so they can take measures to make sure that you are safe. You may find it helpful to talk this over with an agency such as Victim Support or Rape Crisis (see section 4). They can also help you if you decide to report the assault.
If you are in any way frightened, you should expect to be taken seriously if you ask for help.
If you are in any immediate danger, contact the police. You can phone your local police station (in the phone book under P) or, in an emergency, dial 999.
Thinking about safety
Do you have people around you who can support you and keep you company?
Think about how safe you feel today. Are things getting worse? Do you need help today? If so, is there anyone you can contact for help now?
If you do not need to do anything immediately, is there anyone you want to alert for the future?
It might be helpful to make a list of people to contact and their numbers, including agencies. That means if you are frightened or panicking at any point in the future, all the information you need to get help is already there for you.
Think about the place where you stay. Is there anyone nearby you could speak to? You could think about asking for a visit from the police to give home security advice so you feel safer.
If you live in a block of flats is there a friendly neighbour you can ask to keep an eye out for you or tell you if there's anyone hanging about? It's best if this is someone you can really trust.
Did your attacker get your keys, address or ID? Do they know where you live? If so, you may need to think about home security such as changing locks. The police can advise on this.
If your attacker knows where you live or is a neighbour or a family member, you may prefer to move somewhere else temporarily or for the long term. You may need emergency accommodation or want to apply to be rehoused elsewhere (see finding somewhere safe to stay below).
Is your attacker your partner or ex-partner? If so, you could contact the police Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer ( DALO) and/or Women's Aid for help (see section 4).
Is there anything you need to think about in case of emergency? It might be helpful to make sure you keep your mobile with you, charged and in credit. You can phone 999 from most mobile phones even if you are not in credit. If you key in important numbers as speed dial you may be able to reach them more quickly. If you do not have a mobile phone and you feel unsafe, the police may be able to provide one for you.
If you leave your house, how will you do this? Do you need to take dependants with you? Do you have money put by for a taxi or for essentials? You might not have much spare cash, but any little you save helps.
Are there any times when you think you may be at risk? Is there anything you can put in place now just in case?
Staying in your home
If your partner is abusing you sexually, physically and/or mentally, you have a right to stay in your own home and to make your partner leave. You may be able to exclude a violent partner from the home and get a court order to keep them away from you. Some rights are not automatic so depending on your circumstances, you may need to go to court to enforce them. The law is quite complicated so you should first speak to an agency such as Women's Aid or Citizen's Advice Bureau (see section 4) or contact a solicitor. You can find details of solicitors at www.lawscot.org.uk
If you do not feel safe in your home or immediate surroundings, there may be other things you can do to make your home safer such as changing or improving the locks, installing a spy hole and security lights and changing the phone number. The police can give you advice and assistance to make sure your home is secure.
Finding somewhere safe to stay
If you do not have anywhere safe to stay or if you (or any dependants) are at risk from your partner, ex-partner or someone in your home or neighbourhood, you may be entitled to emergency and permanent housing. To find out more, contact your local council and ask for the housing/homeless department. You can also phone Women's Aid (see section 4) or Shelterline on 0808 800 4444 or see http://scotland.shelter.org.uk
Legal protection from an abusive partner or someone who is intimidating you
You can get legal protection from a partner or ex-partner or someone else. To get this, you need to apply to the court through a solicitor. You may be able to get an interdict to prevent someone from coming near you or threatening you. You may be able to get a non-harassment order to stop someone from frightening or distressing you. The law is quite complicated so you should first speak to an advice agency such as Women's Aid or Citizen's Advice Bureau (see section 4) or contact a solicitor. You can find details of solicitors at www.lawscot.org.uk
If your attacker is released on bail ( see here)
If you have reported your attacker and they have been arrested by the police and/or are awaiting trial, they can be released from custody on bail. This can be very frightening particularly if the attacker is your partner or if they live near you. Anyone who is granted bail must agree not to behave in a way which causes or is likely to cause alarm to you or other witnesses. However, the Procurator Fiscal ( see here) can also ask the court to make special bail conditions, for example that the accused should not approach you or enter a certain address. If the court makes these conditions, and the accused approaches you or tries to contact you, they have breached their contract with the court. You should report this to the police immediately or get someone to do this for you. If any of the accused's friends or family approach you or try to contact you and you feel unsafe or intimidated, you should report this to the police immediately or ask someone to do this for you. Victim Information and Advice ( see here) will tell you if the court decides to release the accused on bail and the conditions of the bail.
If the person who attacked you is released from prison
If you are in any way concerned for your safety when your attacker is released from prison, contact the police immediately.
If the person who attacked you has been jailed it may be possible for you to register to be notified when they are due to be released ( see Victim Notification Scheme).
You have a right to feel safe.
There may be things you can do to feel safer.
You should expect to be taken seriously if you ask for help.
You can phone the police at any time. If you believe you are in immediate danger of assault dial 999.
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