Hi,
I have asked about this before on here, several months ago, but so much time has passed that I’m not sure the advice I received would still be correct. I am going to try to give as much detail as I can, without outing myself or my daughter.
Basically, just over two years ago my sixteen year old daughter was raped by her boyfriend at the time. He was controlling and abusive, and things got to a massive head and dd went to stay with her grandparents in order to put some distance between them (she did this willingly). On a visit back to our home town, she voluntarily got in his car (he was threatening to kill himself, and had recently been hospitalised with a failed attempt), where he drove to a car park and raped her. She reported it about 6 weeks later as she was worried about her family’s reaction to the fact that she volunteered to get in his car.
The police have known about this case for just about two years. There is a lot of evidence which they need to go through, and I completely understand that these allegations need to be scrutinised so thoroughly. As the mum of two boys, I actually find reassurance in this. However, I am so frustrated at the lack of progress. I was contacted yesterday by a very helpful police officer who was involved in the case near the start, and has now just taken over. She was clearly surprised at why things havent progressed. I was asked about if dd still had her phone, as that will need to be checked (she doesnt, it died a few months ago and was replaced), she was asking for her councellor’s details and friends who witnessed his controlling behaviour (which is a whole other thread). When I asked why this was not asked for months ago, she couldn’t answer me. I actually asked the police if they needed the phone soon after the rape, was told no.
I want to make it clear that I do understand this process. The police need to establish if there is enough evidence to present to the CPS, who will ultimately make a decision whether to prosecute. After posting last time, I think that I assumed that the police had pursued all lines of enquiry, there was not enough evidence, so the case was remaining open in case anything new came up. This is not the case. His phone records have still not been analysed and the police have had them for over a year. Is this normal? I am astonished that they want to take statements two years later?
When I have asked the police about the lack of progress, I am told that two years to make a charge is not unusual. However, this includes the several months that it takes CPS to make a decision whether to prosecute. I think they are still a fair way from being able to do this.
DD moved to another country to attend boarding school to get away from him. We have close family out there. Thankfully, she has thrived. Before all this happened, dd was a straight A student and had never even had a detention. She was also a national level athlete. Shes had to give up her sport, but she has completed her IB with flying colours and will be off to her uni of first choice (back in the UK) in Sept. I’m so incredibly proud of her, but want nothing more than for this to be dealt with properly.
What do I do?