Police said the new team would benefit the victims of sex crimes

The Edinburgh-based group will work on cases across the Lothian and Border area.

One member of the team is based at a "public protection unit" in Edinburgh, working with police investigators.

Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini, said the group would help implement some of the recommendations of a Crown Office review of how rape cases are handled.

She said prosecutors would spend six months at a time with the team.

'Emotionally draining'

"This is a very sensitive and emotionally draining area of crime in which to work and we also have to take into account the welfare of people working in this field," she said.

"The aim is to offer the very best level of service that we can, and prosecute where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so."

Det Ch Insp Adrian Lawrie, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "This dedicated team will bring huge value to specialist officers working in this sensitive area of criminal investigation, but more importantly also to the victims of these distressing offences.