If you were raped would you report it?

[darleneconnor]

A topical question.

I didn't in the past because I was in denial.

For the sake of my privacy I still wouldn't now. It'd make me feel so guilty leaving someone to go free and maybe do it again but psychologically I coudln't cope with a court case and all that goes with it.

here is an article about a 'rape list' but it sounds like it was just some scribblings on a bathroom wall and was never collated or used for any official purpose.

The police should keep a list surely, rather than turning women away and "no criming" their attacks. this should all be happening

jennieflower your story is shocking.

noplato's list would have to be kept by the police, I think. If any other organisation kept such a list I think it would be vulnerable to data protection act - men would be able to demand to see what information was held about themselves.

i think it is a very, very good idea.

many rapists who get away with it once no doubt do it again with the same MO. If the cases could be connected quickly they could be caught.

Look at that taxi-driver Warboys, he had possibly 100s of victims, almost all of whome didn't report it, any single victim making a report was very unlikely to lead to a prosecution (it was late night pick ups, he looked for women who had been drinking, in addition he drugged them, so evidence hazy,identification was difficult/impossible all the normal problems) but as soon as a few victims did report it, and the police then realised that they had a serial rapist on their hands, they caught him quite quickly.

and then when women realised they WEREN'T the only victim, many many more were able to came forward.

a cross-reference list of allegations, a secure one, would have caught him,

PLATO'S LIST

This should be a Mumsnet Campaign.

I thought these rape stats for different countries might be relevant here. www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_rap_percap-crime-rapes-per-capita

maybe Mumsnet could get someone from the police to come on here for a chat to see if this could be viable?

here is a link to the fawcett society's current rape campaign.

I was raped a long time ago, it was reported. I can honestly say the investigation was almost worse than the rape itself :( no, he was never caught even tho there was cctv.

Leningrad, I got here via your link. How do I get here from the mumsnt index page?

It wouldn't have mattered to me what the police did. As far as I am concerned, it didn't happen.

Would add that any woman wishing to change the culture into one where rape is taken more seriously should join a group like Object that campaign against lads mags and pro rape culture. They have changed the law on lap dancing clubs, prosecuting men using prostitutes and picket supermarkets selling porn. Give them your support and fight back.

I am a police officer (female) and have followed this thread with interest, also posting a bit earlier on. I have worked in this field for over 5 years (mainly, and still specialising, in child abuse investigation, but also dealing with the initial rape victims before our department remit changed recently). I would be happy to answer any questions (if I can) or speak to anyone about any personal experiences. I'm not here to "fly the flag" for the police and say we are all brillint - far from it hearing some of these stories, but I like to think that things are changing and this type of investigation is getting a kick up the backside! Conviction rates are shocking but like I said earlier, I firmly believe it is the treatment of the complainant (male or female) from the off which can determine how an investigation is to go - that is something which I don't feel is hard to combat, the right people need to be doing the job.

jennieflower

That is just shocking.

I mean, honest to God, when that sort of thing happens, is there any wonder that some (most?) women say nothing.

Mistaken identity bloody fucking hell.

And community service when drugging was involved.

backintraining - handy to get your professional perspective.

Why aren't the right people doing the job now? Is it lack of interest/training/female officers or other things?

Do procedures laid down by up above make sense and are not followed or should procedures be changed?

Backintraining - the police dealing with my dd2's rape handled it superbly - can't praise them highly enough - and i'm convinced it has made a great difference in how my dd2 is coping and moving on with her life - however I believe the CPS let her down in the presentation of the case and cross examination. We were thinking of writing to the the police station to thank the officers concerned for their support. Is that a good idea? Who do you think would be the best person to address the letter to (which rank)? I would really like it draw it to the attention of a senior person rather than writing directly to the officers concerned as i know that generally the police get a very bad press about all this.

backintrainig so what do you think of Plato's list - a proper recording of allegations, allegations made with no prospect of individual prsoecution, but to notice patterns.

could that work?
does anything like that happen?
if so should it be better publicised?

It is incredibly sad how many of you have been raped, and then have not been believed/able to get any kind of conviction. It's digraceful.

backintraining - I have PM'd you, hope you don't mind.

backintraining are you around still?

\m feeling nervous about backintraining.
Sent her a PM and now she has gone, is she a regular?

yes she is a regular

ok, will try to relax then.
was starting to panci that she is a hairy trucker that gets off on reading about other peoples misery.

(Sorry backintraining!!!)

We are currently going through this at the moment, my daughter was raped in April this year,I'm not sure she would have reported it but she told her best friend immediatly and then all hell broke lose and the police were called. It then took 5 months for them to charge him which have been extremely harrowing for her as they attended the same school during this time the police have constantly failed to update us and we have heard all sorts through the grape vine whilst trying to get hold of the officer in charge.He has just had his first court appearance and we should have been updated within 24 hours....its now well over that and surprise surprise no update. My poor daughter is really struggling with everyday life and is petrified of attending court, so knowing all this I can see why people wouldnt want to report it...although the only way to increase convictions is to try to get more cases recognised and through the legal system

I'm so sorry NikNak69, that sounds hellish.

goldencarp, I've just read your post seeing as I somehow missed a page here, that is an awful, awful story, although I'm glad to see you got him in the end, how horrible to have to fight for a conviction like that