Evidence
If you are thinking about reporting a rape or sexual assault which has just happened, the more evidence you keep, the greater the chance of finding and convicting the person who assaulted you.
But you can still report at a later time (days, weeks, months, years) even if you have not kept evidence.
Some suggestions for keeping evidence are:
- Contact the police as soon as possible (101 or 999) so they can arrange a forensic examination. This examination is done off island in Aberdeen.
- Tell the police if you think you may have been drugged or your drink ‘spiked’. They will arrange for blood and urine tests.
- Try not to change your clothes. But if you do, put them in a clean plastic bag to give to the police.
- Try not shower or bathe even though this may be your first instinct.
- Try not to clean your teeth.
- Try not to eat or drink, especially alcohol.
- Try not to comb your hair.
- Try not to go to the toilet until you have been examined.
- If the attacker used a condom keep it.