If you are thinking about reporting a rape or sexual assault which has just happened, within the last 7 days, the more evidence you keep, the greater the chance of finding and convicting the person who assaulted you.

Sooner is better in terms of the quality of forensic evidence, but you can still report at a later time (days, weeks, months, years) even if you have not kept the 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 usually done in Aberdeen.
• Tell the police if you think you may have been drugged or your drink ‘spiked’. They can find out more about this and might arrange for blood and urine tests.
• Try not to change your clothes. If you do, put them in a clean paper bag to give to the police.
• Try not to 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 you do need to go, keep anything you use and any period products you may need.
• If the attacker used a condom, keep it.