MSP, Claire Baker, has called for the Scottish Government to step up their efforts to help victims of rape during First Ministers Questions on Thursday.

The Scottish Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife revealed during Parliament’s set piece event that only 12% of reported rapes or attempted rapes proceeded to court in 2015-16, meaning 88% failed to do so.

This follows a landmark civil court case, where the judge found two defendants guilty of rape and ordered to pay damages of £100,000. The case involved footballers David Goodwillie, of Plymouth Argyle, and David Robertson, the Cowdenbeath midfielder. Both men had insisted there was consensual sex in the case.

This was the first such ruling in Scotland as rape and attempted rape cases are normally heard in criminal courts.

The Crown Office had previously taken the decision not to take the matter to court.

The Kelty woman, who is also Scottish Labour’s Justice Spokesperson, raised concerns that victims “will feel that the only justice they can get for these criminal acts is through the civil courts system” and that “rape is a heinous crime that should always result in a criminal charge.”

According to the Proceedings in Scotland bulletin published this week, only 216 cases of rape and attempted rapes proceeded to court, despite 1809 rapes and attempted rapes recorded by the Recorded Crime in Scotland 2015-16 bulletin.

Following the question to the First Minister, Claire Baker, said: “This week has given a stark reminder that there is still much work to be done to support victims of rape and their attempts to achieve justice.

“88% of reported rapes failing to make it to court is a high statistic that should raise serious questions about how our justice system deals with such a heinous crime.

“Following the outcome of the landmark civil case there are now suggestions that more rape victims will take their actions to a civil court as they feel let down by the current criminal court system.

“However, such a shift will raise concerns over the lack of key protections such as anonymity, which are available in criminal but not civil cases and the fact that rape should be treated as a criminal matter.

“The historic decision taken this week raises serious consequences for the Scottish legal system and it is clear that the Scottish Government and the Crown Office must reflect on its wider implications.

“Given the evidence presented in the civil case many people will be asking why the Crown Office will not re-open the case.”