Rape Crisis Scotland chief using victims to defend her is disgusting, says feminist campaigner

Julie Bindel has told how she is appalled by by the scandal engulfing Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre and the actions of Rape Crisis Scotland boss Sandy Brindley.

The Sunday Mail has revealed that Rape Crisis Scotland Chief Executive Sandy Brindley offered to pass the contact details of rape survivors who would speak in her favour when contacted over calls from women's groups demanding she stand down.

The Sunday Mail spoke author and co-founder of the law reform group Justice for Women Julie Bindel who has told how she is appalled by by the scandal engulfing Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC) and the actions of Rape Crisis Scotland charity boss Sandy Brindley.

Leading feminist campaigner Julie writes: As someone who has campaigned for decades on behalf of victims of male violence, I am appalled at the ongoing scandal of Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC). I am disgusted that the Chief Executive of Rape Crisis Scotland has chosen to use rape victims to speak on her behalf, despite the fact that she passionately defended the recruitment of a trans-identified man as CEO of a women-only rape crisis service.

Sandy Brindley, a self-professed feminist, held a senior position in relation to Mridul Wadhwa and included oversight of the rape crisis centre in question. But she took no action when he stated on a podcast that rape victims who do not accept that trans women are women should be called out on their bigotry and “reframe their trauma”.

Wadhwa managed to secure a job advertised as open to women only, without disclosing that he is male. And Brindley left a man who caused trauma to rape victims in charge of ERCC. At that time, Brindley defended Wadhwa against criticism – calling him a ‘sister’, a ‘mother’, and a ‘warrior for women’s rights’.

She defended Wadhwa again when he was under scrutiny at the employment tribunal brought by Roz Adams – a staff member who had made careful enquiries about disclosing to rape survivors the biological sex of those they would be in contact with at the centre. The review into the service after that was damning.

It found that “putting women in the position of having to discuss whether the service they receive will be provided by someone who was born and continues to identify as female has caused damage and does not amount to the provision of protected ‘women only’ spaces.”

Brindley, who oversaw ERCC as a previously safe, women-only space for female victims (including girls as young as 12), has been aware of concerns about ERCC for a number of years.

The service was opened up to men as service users – one of whom is former SNP equalities officer Cameron Downing, now serving time in prison for horrific crimes against women.

When an employment tribunal found that Roz Adams had been harassed and discriminated against by the “invisible hand” of Wadhwa, it would have been reasonable to expect that he would be sacked and that Brindley would resign. Neither happened.

Top news stories today

• Family "tracking cars" to trace driver
• Teens pull 'knife' on Glasgow cyclist
• Mum heartbroken as son dies on holiday
• Scots cops probe Al Fayed 'sex assault'

Concerns about Wadhwa raised with Brindley since his appointment in 2021 have been dismissed with accusations of “misinformation” and “harassment”. She even threatened to report anyone referring to Wadhwa as a man despite the fact that he does not have a gender recognition certificate and is both biologically and legally male.

Two days ago, Brindley apologised to survivors telling the BBC that she had only become aware of the problems at ERCC in October 2023. I can only conclude that she must have had her fingers in her ears if she didn’t hear survivors at a meeting she was at in 2019 organised by then MSP Joan McAlpine.

And now this. Amidst calls for her resignation, Brindley urged the Sunday Mail to talk to users of the service who would, she said, support her. She even offered up their telephone numbers. The paper then received a set of glowing email testimonials.

So it’s okay to ignore one group of survivors but use another group as a smokescreen? Brindley has stooped to using rape survivors as human shields. She should go.

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.