If you were raped would you report it?

backintraining - handy to get your professional perspective.

Why aren't the right people doing the job now? Is it lack of interest/training/female officers or other things?

Do procedures laid down by up above make sense and are not followed or should procedures be changed?

jennieflower

That is just shocking.

I mean, honest to God, when that sort of thing happens, is there any wonder that some (most?) women say nothing.

Mistaken identity bloody fucking hell.

And community service when drugging was involved.

I am a police officer (female) and have followed this thread with interest, also posting a bit earlier on. I have worked in this field for over 5 years (mainly, and still specialising, in child abuse investigation, but also dealing with the initial rape victims before our department remit changed recently). I would be happy to answer any questions (if I can) or speak to anyone about any personal experiences. I'm not here to "fly the flag" for the police and say we are all brillint - far from it hearing some of these stories, but I like to think that things are changing and this type of investigation is getting a kick up the backside! Conviction rates are shocking but like I said earlier, I firmly believe it is the treatment of the complainant (male or female) from the off which can determine how an investigation is to go - that is something which I don't feel is hard to combat, the right people need to be doing the job.

Would add that any woman wishing to change the culture into one where rape is taken more seriously should join a group like Object that campaign against lads mags and pro rape culture. They have changed the law on lap dancing clubs, prosecuting men using prostitutes and picket supermarkets selling porn. Give them your support and fight back.

Leningrad, I got here via your link. How do I get here from the mumsnt index page?

It wouldn't have mattered to me what the police did. As far as I am concerned, it didn't happen.

I was raped a long time ago, it was reported. I can honestly say the investigation was almost worse than the rape itself :( no, he was never caught even tho there was cctv.

noplato's list would have to be kept by the police, I think. If any other organisation kept such a list I think it would be vulnerable to data protection act - men would be able to demand to see what information was held about themselves.

i think it is a very, very good idea.

many rapists who get away with it once no doubt do it again with the same MO. If the cases could be connected quickly they could be caught.

Look at that taxi-driver Warboys, he had possibly 100s of victims, almost all of whome didn't report it, any single victim making a report was very unlikely to lead to a prosecution (it was late night pick ups, he looked for women who had been drinking, in addition he drugged them, so evidence hazy,identification was difficult/impossible all the normal problems) but as soon as a few victims did report it, and the police then realised that they had a serial rapist on their hands, they caught him quite quickly.

and then when women realised they WEREN'T the only victim, many many more were able to came forward.

a cross-reference list of allegations, a secure one, would have caught him,

PLATO'S LIST

This should be a Mumsnet Campaign.

The police should keep a list surely, rather than turning women away and "no criming" their attacks. this should all be happening

jennieflower your story is shocking.

'he mistook her for his girlfriend'
'he was from a foreign country and didn't understand the word 'no''

jennie - how on earth did they believe that? So sorry for what happened to you, and indeed everyone on this thread. :(

Absolutely not. From the moment it started I 100% knew it would go no further. 24 hours before that I would have said yes, so you can't know if you haven't been there.

(9 Nov 2007)

Never again!

I was also raped, 11 years ago. My attackers case went to court and he pleaded not guilty on the grounds of mistaken identity, he allegedly mistook me for his girlfriend. He admitted to drugging me to a state of unconsciousness just before the attack though and got a few hours of community service for that. He was found not guilty of the attack. Even as I type this I'm aware of how ridiculous that sounds.

Fucking bastard, he ruined my life, everybody sees the not guilty verdict and assumes I made it all up, even though he admitted to drugging me and having sex with me while I was out of it.

I used to work with children/young people who had been sexually abused. It is not an easy decision and many respects it is a very personal one. I was fortunate to be pastoral support a young lady that reported. It was a very drawn-out process (two years) before a 14 year conviction was brought. The process was extremely unsettling for her and she needed emotional support(and psychological intervention) along the way. I think it takes real 'balls' to re-visit what happened and to detail that to others. But I can also say that the pay out if they are convicted is massive. Good luck with any decisions.

undertheboredwalk Mon 08-Nov-10 20:12:25
No I wouldn't. I was raped 10yrs ago, I reported it and was put through hell and it didn't even get to court. No way would I put myself through that again.

===============================================

I was raped when I was 17 and ended up pregnant (which I terminated), I didn't report it at the time as I was so shocked and upset. I didn't even tell my parents who would have probably castrated the guy if they ever saw him!

I'm, happy, married and with 3 wonderful kids (the eldest kid being 20).

I also missed your last post I have just read it now thank you.

Thanks lenin that is a disgusting figure, and it is shameful that rape victims cannot feel sucure and supported enough to report