Reporting rape when not wanting to go down prosecution route

[Adeleley]

Friend wants to report rape by exH that took place 2yrs ago. definitely doesn't want to go down prosecution route but wants to inform police.
Shes been told by support service to go to police station, tell the civvy on the desk what its about and ask to see a female officer. Has anyone done this? Can an appointment be made? Is tghis really the process?

I have a feeling that once she's reported it to the police it's not up to her whether or not to prosecute, so she might want to take that into consideration. But yeah, that sounds like the process, turn up at the door and ask to speak to someone.

To be honest with you, I'm not sure what she's hoping to achieve with reporting but not prosecuting, especially 2 years later. What would happen next, in her ideal scenario?

Every sympathy for her but she'd just be wasting police time surely?

Not necessarily a waste of time. There would be a report of the act if not an investigation. It might prove useful in the future.

When the crime is reported, she wont decide to prosecute (COS) or to investigate (police). But she can inform them that she won’t testify. Assuming in the UK, the police will NFA it.

She might feel better if ahe spoke to Womens Aid or Rape Crisis (is that the right name of the organisation)? What does she want to achieve by speaking to the police, if she doesnt want him prosecuted?

I think it would be great if women (and men) could report sex offences and the police keep a record, if the person is a serial offender then having reports from different women might make it easier to prosecute.

I've seen people on here who say they are police officers, say that it doesn't work like that, though. And if you don't want to prosecute there's no point in reporting.

It's pretty bad that women see reporting rape as wasting police time in UK, however given the conviction rates etc it seems pragmatic. Really depressing situation.

I was in a slightly similar situation and the police told me that if I were to give any details of the rape on record/officially then it was up to the police/CPS what they did with that information.

I chose not to prosecute due to the very low conviction rates to be honest. Without damning physical evidence of the rape what can the police do? So what's the point in going through the trauma of giving awful details for a statement and perhaps then having to stand up in court and be cross questioned, just for him to be found "not guilty"?!

It's pretty bad that women see reporting rape as wasting police time in UK

I think the PP meant it was wasting their time to report if you don't want to prosecute.

What does she want to achieve by doing this?

Why does she want to report it without wanting prosecution, he could do this to someone else. Maybe she should call a rape advice line for advise. Is there any point if it just becomes he said she said without any evidence.

I was raped and wanted to go down the prosecution route (sadly police fucked up my case, whole other story). But I do distinctly remember being told right at the beginning that I could just make a statement to be kept “on file” and not go ahead with trying for a prosecution if I wanted to. This was only a couple of years ago so not that long. However, given how many screw ups they made, I can’t say for sure they were correct in that. This was the same police officer that tried to minimise the whole thing by saying my rapist probably just had a few drinks too many and lacked judgement!

To those asking “what’s the point”. There is still a point in that if the guy ever does rape someone else and they report it, the first victim has the opportunity at that point to have her case looked at. And with 2 reports you have a much stronger chance of conviction.

My DD disclosed to me a few weeks ago that she was sexually assaulted two years ago. I called the police to report it.
She doesn't want to prosecute just wanted it all out in the open as it's been getting her down.
I called 101 and gave the info and two specialist police officers came round to speak to her. They have also offered her specialist counselling and although she doesn't want to take it further the police are keeping this on his record and need to tell him that it is on there. If she makes a complaint it will be noted so that if it happens again they have evidence that it has happened before.
Police told us we were not waisting their time at all!

If your friend names the offender police are duty bound to do the minimum standard of investigation. There is this belief that if a victim doesn’t want to prosecute then it won’t go ahead but ultimately it’s up to the CPS to make that decision and if the evidence test is proved. So it may go ahead even without her support depending on what she says although unlikely something to bare in mind. It is something I would really discuss with another agency (Rape Crisis eg) if she is adamant it is not what she wants to do.

Seems different views on what happens &police response.. Friend sees this as wayof drawing a line under it& moveing on. Believes he coukld do it again to someone else so wants soemthing on file in event of someone else reporting him so shed be believed more. Thered be no evidence to prosecute in her case but accept thats polices decision to make.

If he did it again, and she has chosen not to take it any further, I doubt that the report she has made will have any effect on him and certainly wouldn't be admissible in court as he will not have been prosecuted or even found guilty of any crime.
I'd advise her to speak to a rape crisis centre in the first instance.

I spoke to rape crisis when it happened to me. I didn't want to prosecute but wanted it on record. I reported it anonymously through crime stoppers online. The writer is kept anonymous but there is a way that they can use a code to send an email to the reporter, if any other women report rape and need witnesses. I would be happy to be a witness for another woman, as very often rapes follow the same pattern. But there would be no pressure for me to as the police have no idea who it is that they are contacting. It uses encryption I think. I found it helpful to do this. It made it real and felt like I was doing the right thing for other women.

Sorry, the police can use a code to contact the reporter.

Police officer here.

Whether your friend wishes for a prosecution to happen or not, the police will still have to investigate, locate the suspect, interview him and make decisions based on this. There is a lot of work to get to this point.

It is not a waste of police time to report a rape, but there is a lot work behind the scenes work that goes into it and it is very frustrating when the desired outcome is blocked.

Good for her.

It's unlikely there'll be a prosecution, as the police/system is crap about rape. So she can be fairly safe that she'll 'just' be putting it on file in case anyone else reports issues with it in future.

In the very, very, very rare event it comes to a prosecution being about to take place and she has been told that for sure, she can always drop it at that stage. It might even still go on file then.

Yes, in theory the police could bring it forward without her but that wouldbe even more rare I think, especially for rape by a then partner (because, as I say, the police/CPS are shit.

What I will say is she shouldn't expect anything, and she shouldn't expect to be treated particularly nicely at all times, their amount of kindness varies depending on what they've decided etc. If she goes into i without expecting anything, the process is less likely to scar her. Go into it knowing that the system is misogynist etc at every step along the line, and she will have to know her own truth inwardly and not let any unpleasant comments/treatment she receives effect her.

I am reporting abuse etc that began 18 months ago at the moment- saw an officer this week. I'm trying to maintain no attachment at all to the outcome as much as I can. I'm just putting this forward as how his behaviour is, and how they consider it/what they do with it is up to them. I'm just hoping it'll lie on file.

Best wishes and well done to her from me. xxx

*excuse the typos x

the police will still have to investigate, locate the suspect, interview him and make decisions based on this.

@Changeymcchangerson Nope, they can drop it before they even interview the person if they think a jury will not convict. I know this for a fact because it happened for various reasons once when I reported a violent rape. I think they've got more crap by far within the last few years, and that's what all reporting says. More cases are being brought forward by women, but far less are being prosecuted. This was about 16 months ago- the police seemed to undertake a CPS-like assessment of the likelihood of a successful prosecution as they went along, in a way they didn't use to in the past.

^it is very frustrating when the desired outcome is blocked.*

Imagine how it feels to the victim! Rape is rape and one of the most serious crimes, and it should be properly reported and investigated.

@interestedwoman

I spent several years on what used to be called the Sapphire unit within the Met police, dealing exclusively with rapes and sexual assaults on adults.

It is not for the police to decide what a jury may think, that's a job for the CPA. I can assure you that if I ever closed a rape allegation before proper investigation because I thought "Nah, jury won't go for this" I would have lost my job by now.

Where there is a known suspect they will be invited for a caution + 3 interview, every time. If they decline, they can be arrested.

I can't speak for other parts of the country, but where I worked, this is what was done every single time.

Imagine how it feels to the victim! Rape is rape and one of the most serious crimes, and it should be properly reported and investigated.

I did, and still do. That's why I do the job I do.

CPA? CPS*

Your friend will be investigated herself before they even contemplate investigating him. Her history, her medical records, her life will be invaded in detail to weigh up whether they reckon she is credible or a jury will think she is credible. (And if she's traumatised from what he did to her, that's considered to reduce her credibility not taken as evidence of the injury it is).

It's not down to her whether it proceeds to prosecution or not, although if she refuses to give access to her medical records and refuses to do video interviews it won't be investigated so there won't be a possibility of prosecution - but if she refuses to do that they probably won't bother recording anything meaningful anywhere either.

They may not even record it, least of all with his name.

Front desk of a police station with random strangers listening and a person on the desk who doesn't give a fuck is only going to be traumatic for her. Better to call 101 and hope the call handler she gets isn't too much of a dickhead. If she really feels strong enough to expose herself to this messed up system.

It won't give her closure and it won't help protect anyone else. It will most likely cause her additional trauma and obliterate any trust she may have had in the police/criminal justice system.

It will be her life that gets fucked up. He probably won't have anything recorded against his name, much less have to speak to a police officer or answer any questions.