Rape allegation database

[Roosterbooster99]

Sorry, posting for traffic. To distill, I was raped by a man and I know he has raped other people. All so called Date Rape. I know he has done it to other women before and after what happened to me. But usually when one man rapes a lot of unconnected women, especially after a drink etc the women end up in silos, not knowing he’s done it to others, questioning their own memory, blaming themselves etc, etc, etc.

And I’m sure lots of women, like me, won’t report it. Because it’s her word against his most of the time, and who wants to destroy their lives for 4% convictioncrates.

What I want to do is create an online database. Only visible to staff/administrators, but it would mean if a man was habitually date raping, evidence would build up and flag him.

I’m seriously thinking about s

If someone wouldnt report it to the police, why would they report it to you? How would you screen for malicious allegations? What would you do with a name that was "flagged up"?

So many questions. I am sorry this happened to you, and i hope the bastard gets his come-uppance one day.

I understand your frustration with conviction rates and I think we need to deal with that but I don't think you can create a database of names labelling someone a rapist if they haven't actually been convicted. If they are convicted then presumably they go on the sex offenders register.

I'm sorry this happened to you too. How would you ensure this information is secure and couldn't be hacked? It would be very bad if i ended up in the public domain.

The police keep that sort of info. Something unregulated could just be used to ruin someones life. People would make face accusations, police have the ability to check if they're fair accusations.

When I had specialist counselling after I was raped the service in question took my rapist’s details: his full name, his date of birth and the job he does and put it into their database in case his details came up again. Some victims won’t know that specific information but I was told even a name, age and occupation can help.

This isn’t a national database only a regional one in that part of the country. I happen to think it’s a great idea.

I could contact you ten different times under ten different names, and say my exH raped me. Voila, he's a multiple date rapist.

Can i ask very gently why you wont even report to the police? If you give them a name, it will be recorded, although yes, it might be NFAd due to lack of evidence. If ten other (real) women do the same thing, that will start making connections.

Gah! Posted to soon.

I’m seriously thinking about seeking a grant to do this and I’d like to pilot it initially with sex workers. They’re in such perilous circumstances just a text to let someone know where they are, kept on record, could be a lifesaver. I’m particularly thinking of Mary Jane Mustafa and Henriett Szucs who were missing for months and months because their murderer had put them in a chest freezer. If Henriett has managed to let someone know her whereabouts, Mary Jane might have been saved.

Nobody would every need to know unless a linked case came in. Rapes are at an all time low for convictions. I’m seriously thinking about looking for funding for this. What does anyone think?

This does already happen. You can (using SARC I believe) report a person for rape without having them arrested or starting an investigation. The police then keep tabs on if the name is mentioned multiple times. Then they would be able to open an investigation for serial rape.

I think that the scope for making malicious claims on a database is too great. And what about GDPR? Those who have info recorded about them have the right to know what it is, and that could put women at risk.

I think your energies would be better devoted to making women feel more confortable about reporting rape and sexual assaults to the police, OP, and making the whole experience, including any subsequent trial, more sensitive to the needs of women.

You aren’t going to get a grant for this, way too much risk for malicious accusations. I understand the intent behind it, but in practice I don’t think it will work.

You aren’t going to get a grant for this, way too much risk for malicious accusations. I understand the intent behind it, but in practice I don’t think it will work.

^ this, sorry

I'd be interested in how you would manage to comply with gdpr by gaining permission from those who you hold data about

V sorry that happened to you. I don’t think your solution would work, but elements of it could perhaps improve policing.

Malicious rape claims are rare, LakieLady, even as a subset of false allegations. It’s depressing when people raise that so quickly in these kind of discussions, when the actual problem that only a tiny, tiny proportion of rapists are jailed (at all, let alone for long).

I work in this field and there are already mechanisms for this, such as attending a SARC , the police also keep a record of allegations as well as convictions which is very important as it's the record that's checked as part of DBS checks

The very idea of this should be illegal

I share your fury that people get away with rape and other sexual offences, although unfortunately I also agree with the concerns raised by others above about your idea. I’ve been a victim of a sexual predator in a prestigious, responsible role who (as it turns out) serially preys on vulnerable young women. I would love nothing more than a way to make others aware that he does this, to protect people in future, but I don’t know how. It keeps me awake at night.

Keep thinking (I will too) and I’m so sorry for your own experience

You need consent from people to keep and use their data. Gdpr.

Actually I think it's a very interesting idea, especially in the case of sex workers who have so little protection at all.

I dont see why GDPR would be an insurmountable problem - it's a database of allegations, as long as it's clearly labelled as such. You would probably need the name of the accusers though, which might be problematic. Although this too depends on what happens if a name is flagged. If the flags are just used to warn other sex workers, rather than for legal purposes, then you wouldn't need to prove their veracity - no one has the right to a sex worker's body, (s)he can avoid anyone they choose. And I cant see many Johns taking you to court to demand to be reinstated.

For the reasons already listed, it is a bad idea. In addition to those you could also be sued for defamation. Sadly, by its inherent nature, rape is a hard to prove crime. Also sorry you were raped.

If more women felt able to come forward about date rape, fewer men would attack women because they would know the risk of being caught was so much higher. Thats not victim blaming, its trying to empower victims and change a culture where men rape, and women just hide it.

If you knew you would be believed and taken seriously, would you report rape?

MRAs would swamp it with nonsense data. I mean a woman can't even post an innocuous opinion on Twitter without rape threats, so it's doubtful the the vilest of MRAs would let this stand.

Good idea, but needs to be verified and held by police.

Appalling idea on many levels.

A significant number of MNers(38% at the moment) like it. That says a lot about a significant number of MNers.

@Mrsemcgregor

This does already happen. You can (using SARC I believe) report a person for rape without having them arrested or starting an investigation. The police then keep tabs on if the name is mentioned multiple times. Then they would be able to open an investigation for serial rape.

That sounds like the system I was told about that the man who raped me is on. If his details appear again (and I think they will if they haven’t already) then dots are joined and police are notified.

I don't think this is a good idea OP for alot of reasons. I sympathise but you should think about reporting...it is the way to go if you want him named & shamed...he needs to be convicted of a sexual offence & added to the sex offenders register.

Why "appalling " @galgaf12?