80% conviction rate in America but just 2.9% in Scotland..so now 500 prosecutors will get special training to put the victims first; EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: By MARK AITKEN Political editor

EVERY prosecution lawyer who deals with rape victims will be retrained to improve Scotland's appalling conviction rate for sex crimes.

Victims have less than a one in 30 chance of seeing an attacker convicted - one of the worst rates in the western world.

The shocking figures have been blamed on inexperienced prosecutors and victims' lack of confidence in the system.

By next summer, fiscals will only be allowed to handle rape cases if they have approved training. More than 500 prosecutors will be trained.

The two-day course will offer refresher training on rape law and teach lawyers how to support victims.

It will include discussions with forensic examiners, senior police officers, victim support workers and High Court prosecutors.

Lord Advocate Eilish Angiolini said: "This training is a vital part of ensuring there is a professional, determined approach to gathering evidence and bringing prosecutions before the court."

The move follows calls from Scotland's chief police officers and victim support groups for the introduction of specialist rape prosecutors. The United States has used specialists since the 1980s with some states achieving conviction rates of more than 80 per cent.

By contrast, latest figures for Scotland show those found guilty of rape has dropped to an all-time low of 2.9 per cent.

In 2006-7 there were 922 rapes reported but just 27 cases ended in a conviction.

There is also a gulf in the conviction rate across Scotland.

Grampian had a 6.2 per cent conviction rate but the rate at both Tayside and Dumfries and Galloway was zero.

The Crown Office will not fully adopt the American system but police chiefs and victim support groups back it.

Sandy Brindley, of Rape Crisis Scotland, said: "The development of this course is an important step in improving responses to rape."

Assistant chief constable Bill Skelly, of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: "We are delivering reform to ensure victims are afforded a sufficient level of support through the judicial process."

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Shocking: Scotland's conviction rate is one of the worst