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Original poster

Changes in how rape will be investigated- about time!

590 replies

AWholeLottaNosy · 28/01/2015 22:05

I just read this and I was really pleased. It's about time rape was investigated and prosecuted differently considering the appalling rape conviction rate we have in this country. Imagine there will be an outcry from all the MRAs, but, I think it's very good news...

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11375667/Men-must-prove-a-woman-said-Yes-under-tough-new-rape-rules.html

OP posts:
machair · 29/01/2015 20:48

Thank you MrsKCastle.

MrsKCastle · 29/01/2015 20:32

The guidelines in no way mean 'guilty until proven innocent'.

The question they're planning on asking is so basic, so obvious, and (for anyone who respects their sexual partners) so simple-

How did you know that she consented to have sex with you?

Innocent men will have nothing to fear because they'll immediately answer 'I knew she consented because she said (or did) x, y,z.' And if they're telling the truth, their story will stand up under cross examination.

Not that they'd be likely to face accusations of rape anyway, because women who have fully consensual and (hopefully) enjoyable sex very rarely accuse their partners of rape.

The only men who need to worry are those who don't bother to find out whether a woman really wants sex before penetrating her. Oh and those who rape women who are incapacitated and can't consent.

HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 20:30

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Mitchy1nge · 29/01/2015 20:30

and really if people can't grasp such basic things they should fuck off and be thick somewhere else

HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 20:28

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Mitchy1nge · 29/01/2015 20:28

it's not a change in the law

am sure this has been pointed out already but the law has required 'reasonable belief in consent' since whenever (2005?)

this is an important and overdue shift in guidance from the CPS to the police

ApocalypseThen · 29/01/2015 20:21

This law change seems to say that the man is guilty until proven innocent.

Good old seems, convenient go-to when you don't want to bother reading stuff but still feel a bit hostile. There's no reason why a man shouldn't be asked which words or actions led him to the conclusion that he had consent. The idea that women are in a perpetual state of consent to sex unless otherwise stated is risible.

Original poster
AWholeLottaNosy · 29/01/2015 20:16

House,sorry I don't have any stats on that to give you and I don't do that job any more.

OP posts:
PuffinsAreFictitious · 29/01/2015 20:12

No, it really doesn't.

Unless you think that men not knowing if they have consent or not is ok?

Is that what you're saying, machair?

HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 20:12

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machair · 29/01/2015 20:10

In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This law change seems to say that the man is guilty until proven innocent.

HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 20:02

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Original poster
AWholeLottaNosy · 29/01/2015 19:56

I used to train volunteers for Victim support to support female and male victims of rape so I learnt a lot about sexual violence during that time. As we already know, rape is about power and control and just as female victims often have little injuries after their assault ( often because intimidation and the threat if violence is enough to force a woman to submit), with male victims, not only is the act ( anal penetration ) more violent, it takes more physical violence to subdue a male victim. The evidence of physical violence may also partly account for the higher rate of conviction with male victims. All rape is an act of violence though.

OP posts:
HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 19:48

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HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 19:25

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YonicScrewdriver · 29/01/2015 19:24

House:

In 2011 the conviction rate for rape against a female was 39.7%, just below the 45.2% rate for rape against a male. The aggregate rate across all sexual offences was 60.3%.

HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 19:22

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YonicScrewdriver · 29/01/2015 19:21

Is it really more violent, nosy? Partner rape too?

HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 19:21

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HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 19:19

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Original poster
AWholeLottaNosy · 29/01/2015 19:15

I think with male victims it's much more clear cut and the usual stereotypes don't apply. So you couldn't argue, well, he was wearing tight shorts so I couldn't help myself type of thing.

Also male rape is typically more violent so there is more objective evidence of lack of consent.

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HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 19:10

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HouseWhereNobodyLives · 29/01/2015 19:08

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yellowdaisies · 29/01/2015 19:01

House - could that not be because most people are straight, rather than gay, so if a straight man is raped the jury is less likely to believe that it was consensual?

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