Rape victims in Scotland will be protected when giving evidence, says lord advocate

Supreme court ruled rape shield' laws to limit intrusive cross-examination may breach men's right to fair trial

Scotland's most senior law officer has moved to reassure victims of sexual abuse that they will be protected after a supreme court ruling warned that Scottish laws designed to limit intrusive cross-examination could be breaching men's right to a fair trial.

In a strongly worded statement, the lord advocate, Dorothy Bain KC, said: I would like to make clear that I understand sexual abuse inflicted upon women and children to be the single greatest challenge our justice system faces.