Does anyone know much about the rape process?

OP I hope you are OK.

I wasn't sure whether to post the above due to your situation - on the one hand I don't want to scare you but on the other hand I don't feel that rape myths of that magnitude should be left without strong challenge especially on FWR and especially on a thread like yours where the myths might have an impact on lurkers.

The police are not going to do you for anything. As another person who went through the process said, the "malicious" comment was almost certainly a throw-away comment from a poorly trained pillock.

Shows up more about the attitude of police than anything to do with victims IMO.

Sapphire unit in the Met turned away some of John Warboys victims on the basis that they didn't believe them. Police officers will have been saying "more women making it all up", and happily confirming all their biases. Fact was though, that they were telling the truth.

That has happened a lot historically and has not magically stopped in the last few years.

Look at the different no-crime stats for rape around the country, for instance. It is not a fact that women in one part of the UK are all liars compared to another part. The difference is because of different attitudes in the different forces as to whether they take the crimes seriously and believe victims, or if they don't.

The fact of a police officer going onto an internet forum where a woman is talking about her experience with the process, and probably others who are thinking about reporting etc are reading, and say "most women who report rape are liars", is a very negative message.

A message that the Police themselves and the public prosecutions service are working hard to dispel, given that statistically it is completely false.

However as long as we have people popping in and casually saying "well I'm a cop and me and my cop mates all know for a fact that women constantly lie through their teeth about being raped", we are still going to be in a position where victims are afraid of coming forward and people with a vested interest in victims not coming forward have great arguments to support their views.

Sad fact but there we are. These things matter, and impact on the lives of victims, and support victim blaming in the press, and the arguments of those who want victims to be publicly named etc etc.

That's not a made up myth thats the truth in my experience. At no time has anyone said they don't believe the OP. Not once

In actual fact she and I have spoken via pms regarding her case.

No hesitation in my or anyone elses mind shes 100% genuine and I think youll find ive emphasised on several occasions on here theres no way shell be prosecuted

OP have a look at this article .

There is a link to guidance for prosecution for perverting the course of justice by false allegation or false retraction.

You have not made a false allegation. It certainly can't be proved that you did.

I assume you don't want to retract but that you are understandably apprehensive about the court process.

I hope your Mum has given a statement and been asked to identify the rapist?

There is a handbook about the court process on the Rights of Women website.

WTF - this is a HORRENDOUS rape myth

Its a sad fact but police officers probably see more made up rape allegations than true ones. I know that in the past year or so numerous have been reported when ive been working of those only a handful were genuine.

Mumsnet rape busting myths are here.

I believe you OP.

People who get prosecuted for wasting police time aren't those who police cant get enough evidence for a conviction they're people who lie about a crime having happened.

Whether hes married/single is dad of the year or a total b has no bearing on police action

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get the idea out your head that youll be prosecuted. You won't!

The idea of women being prosecuted for bringing rape charges which they later retract or are dropped due to lack of evidence is a favourite trope of MRAs who believe that all women lie about rape, and that any woman who accuses a man of rape and that man isn't then convicted should then be prosecuted... or bullshit to that effect.

Because all women who report rape are liars, aren't they?

where has this idea of you being prosecuted come from

I don't understand why the police are saying to the OP that they need to check what she has said is not "malicious slander" when they are the ones who persuaded her to continue with her complaint in the first place.

I also don't believe that most women and girls who complain of sexual violence are lying but that is for another thread. I believe you OP

Please do keep posting if and when you feel for as long as you wish, the support is here for you if you want it or need to talk or anything

Just do you think they would have taken it as far as they did with MC if it had just been one person reporting? Or if Yewtree wasn't underway?

Bullets I can only apologise for that if I could edit it I would. it came out completely wrong and as I say I apologise for that.

Believe me I take any report seriously. Im expecting a court citation soon for a rape where I spent ages on the phone to a hysterical and traumatised rape victim trying to calm her down and find out where she was hiding. despite other things Ive dealt with I couldnt get her out my head for ages. Shes one I wont ever forget

I'm currently going through reporting a rape to the police. I gave an initial statement then went back and have a longer one. Send me a pm if you want any more information.

Heart you need to get this idea out of your head that you're going to get in bother. You havent lied or made anything up. If you decide to cancel the whole thing now thats totally your perogative. Youre not going to get charged. YOURE the victim.

its your call if you want to proceed. Whatever you decide the police will help you.

Have you told them your mum was there? Has she given a statement. Youve got a witness to the 2nd incident thats a definite good thing