To suspect police are worried about vigilantes - Epsom attack

[ReadingCrimeFiction]

I live relatively close to Epsom and so this appalling assault is all over my news feeds and social media.

BBC News - Town left in shock by appalling rape outside church
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8dl5yevjg9o

The police have asked for witnesses but no descriptions have been given. Cue lots of very disturbing posts and comments from people who very clearly think these men are not white.

I can think of half a dozen scenarios where this is not being disclosed but, based on the comments, I think it all comes down to fears that local communities will take it on themselves to "apprehend" anyone who even vaguely looks like the perpetrators? And while the comments I am seeing are mostly white people being disgusting in their assumptions about brown and black people, i can imagine police would he equally concerned if, for example, the woman was Asian or Black and her attackers were white.

Is this where we are at? Where people make horrible racist assumptions and/or where police have to worry about how they will protect the broader community if they give any details of criminals?

That’s across all newssites.

I think in a normal place with civilised people they would never need to issue such a statement. The investigation would be done out the public eye and if they felt that there was no evidence to suggest it happened the police would move on and we would be none the wiser.

But because of neanderthal “protestors” they are having to provide updates like these.

Yes. I said not necessarily calling her a liar. It could be one of the two options I mentioned.

Ah! The old 'if in doubt, categorise him as one of them lot's' gotcha.

No further questions your honour.

Exactly. Now if no charges are made there will probably be accusations of a cover up and/or that woman will be doxxed by someone and have her life ruined even more.

“The police will know if a criminal in custody is a white British man. He doesn’t have the option of concealing his ethnicity or country of origin. His full records from birth are available to the authorities. Some PPs seem to be unaware of this.”

Why would this be the case for white British men and not non-white British men?

Also actually ethnicity is not based on “records from birth”. It’s based on what people can communicate. A “white British man” is just as able to choose not to disclose his ethnicity when navigating the legal system.

PPs “aren’t aware” because you made it up. It’s not a “reasonable inference” at all.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/ethnicity-and-the-criminal-justice-system-2024/statistics-on-ethnicity-and-the-criminal-justice-system-2024-html

Given the observed intelligence levels of the protestors / protestors supporters absolutely they will believe, if no arrests made, that the police are deliberately lying to protect a criminal gang.

The police know as unless the victim was blind, she'll have told them

Oh what a surprise. Turns out asylum seekers or immigrants weren't involved. What a lot of people frothing at the mouth about uncultured immigrants when nothing of the sort was ever the case.

Have a word with yourselves everyone who jumped to that conclusion.

BBC News - No evidence Epsom rape took place as reported, say police
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyxp4q5k93o

You didn't bother to read the thread did you?

The vigilantes obviously haven’t learned from the Ellie Williams fiasco. I’m not saying that’s the case here but just leave the police to do their job ffs.

The police statement is very unusual. They are effectively saying that it didn’t happen and will have thought long and hard about releasing it.

I thought it was really odd when the police were asking specifically for witnesses who’d spoken to a distressed woman in her 20s. Rather than witnesses to the crime or people who’d seen the men.

I doubt any of them are particularly invested in women’s safety generally. I’d bet a decent amount of money on more than one of them having domestic violence convictions.

I supppse the poster meant immigrants wouldn't be documented but they might be white as well as non white.

Is this what people think that line means (the one everyone is quoting)

These options seem worse

I’m sorry if you struggled to understand my post.

Why would this be the case for white British men and not non-white British men?

Because the police have eyes 🤷‍♀️

A “white British man” is just as able to choose not to disclose his ethnicity when navigating the legal system.

You do know that the police can access records that carry personal data such as place of birth, parents etc?

Are you now suggesting that they can’t tell pretty reliably who is of British origin and who isn’t?

Pretty much, it seems.

I just read this elsewhere. So basically they’re saying there’s no proof she was raped?!?

edit: or even that she exists as far as I can see online?

Or because local women are worried there are multiple rapists on the loose and deserve an update?

Ah right, I must have missed that. Still nothing from the actual government though

No. They are saying, 'as reported". They have also specifically said victim is being supported.

I read this as a very drunk and/or drugged young woman who was raped and was in distress and very confused about who, where, etc.

It could also be, sadly, a young woman who was raped but for whatever reason, does not want to disclose who it was, and has come up with a story accordingly.

I dont read it as saying a rape didnt happen.

Of course, sadly, that could also be the case but the police were quick to say a rape had happened and ot an alleged rape, which suggests to me that there was a rape, but that subsequent elements of the story may be inaccurate.

I have also assumed drink/drugs involved (maybe she was drugged) and so details are hazy. That's not to victim blame at all. I can think of myself being in that situation 20 years ago.

Epsom does have a massive problem with drinks being spiked. I’ve worked with so many young girls who have said their drinks have been spiked when out in the pubs etc there plus lots of mums I’ve known have commented on how their daughters have come home and told them:displayed behaviour. I’ve found that quite shocking that it’s that rife. And I do feel it’s rife ,to know such a broad spectrum of people to comment on it from different areas of my life.