HELP! I need your support!

[DottyDooRidesAgain]

I have copied and pasted my original post along with the reply from Amy.

A guest speaker/poster/professional?

I am part of a thread discussing historical/personal accounts of sexual abuse and rape.
A few posters have posted about their negative experiences with the police. Obviously this is distressing and should never have happened to them but it does concern me that somebody reading the thread may be put off reporting a sex crime to the police.
Most of the posters on that thread have cited reasons for not reporting and not being believed/badly treated by the police was one of them.

I wonder if it would be possible for MNHQ to have a sexual abuse/rape officer do a blog or Q & A session where the process of reporting a sex crime can be discussed along with how the victim can expect to be treated. I just feel this maybe be a positive step towards people feeling they can report a sex crime and that they will be treated with dignity and respect no matter if it was a stranger/lover/husband or family member.

If MNHQ have already covered this then I apologise, I'm relatively new to the site.

Many thanks

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amyMumsnet France (MNHQ) Fri 04-Jul-14 17:24:27

Hi Dotty,

Starting a thread in site stuff is the best way to make a request. If it looks like there's a lot of interest in a certain guest then we'll do our best to get them to come along.

If you agree that this would be helpful and supportive can you please add your comments.

Many thanks

Good idea

That seems like a good idea.

Good idea

I'm in favour of this.

You could have a DV reporting unit blog post, a rape reporting blog post and a child abuse reporting blog post, maybe?

Thank you everyone who has added their support.

That would be great waffly I am a big believer in knowledge and the power it has. Maybe MNHQ could make them stickys (is that the correct term) for a while?

Brilliant idea. I was just thinking how the Rolf Harris light sentencing might put people off (I know, other end of the process, but it would be really good to have some weight on the other side of how this lioks, iyswim.)

I've heard there are changes afoot as to how victims are treated by the police and the courts and it would be good to make the proper procedure and victim's rights (and what to do if not treated properly, where to get additional help and support etc) well known.

Other advantages of having 'best practice' laid out clearly by a police expert is that 1. when someone starts a thread we can refer them to it rather than give advice based on what we assume or have experienced personally, which may not be universal and 2. it may support the victim in being able to ask the police they are actually dealing with (whose treatment of the case will vary from force to force and officer to officer) for appropriate action/support or spot if something that should be being done isn't.

Thanks all, for adding your thoughts on this idea. Just a quick note to say we are seeing all the replies and will pass them on to the relevant people at MNHQ.

Thank you Iona

I was coming on to say what waffly has. Unfortunately, what SHOULD happen, doesn't always happen. But if we are aware of the best practice procedures, there is more chance of it happening.

My Dd2(17) has recently said if she was sexually assaulted or raped, she wouldn't report it because of what she would have to go through interview and examination-wise at the police station. I can only hope that if such a crime happened to her, she would change her mind.

Excellent idea.

This is very true Yellow.

Flisspaps love the nn

I think it's a very good idea.

Great idea indeed.

Great idea, adding my support :)

Yes, yes, yes.

Adding my support.

I think its a good idea, plus, I agree with yellow and waffly if we knew what should happen it would make it easier to know if an individual officer isn't doing it properly/what to do if we aren't happy with how its handled.

A thread about process and legalities would be useful,yes
Covering the legislation,process,what happens

Adding support. Great idea

Great idea.

Signing in to support!

Brilliant idea. 2 things from me:

1. Agree with GinandSonic that a Q&A from the Rape Crisis Centre about what they can offer would be extremely useful.

1. Advice for people who were victims of historic abuse whose evidence might be of use in current investigations/inquiries eg the Jimmy Savile one. There may be people who are sitting on pieces of the jigsaw who have no idea if their experience is relevant to any of the ongoing inquiries, and who would need their coming forward to be handled sensitively. Most victims of abuse would want to help others who have already come forward, but there needs to be clarity about how to come forward, and to whom, and how to be safe.

Sorry, just to be clear, I'm talking about people who can help identify the networks of abuse which were current in the past.

This is definitely something I would like to see, both dialogue with police services and support agencies like rape crisis and children's services