the we believe you campaign

[spence82]

Hi all

I was just wondering about the we believe you campaign. I know this a very sensitve subject so I assure I'm not asking to offend or start an argument.

I take it the campaign is there to support victims and offer assurances with a crime that is very hard to convict on.

My question is does the campaign automatically imply the guilt of the rapist even though our justice system is innocent until proven guilty? Or is there more to it than that?

Like I said I'm not looking to cause offence just wishing to be educated. Sincere apologies of anyone is offended by the question.

You do understand that no one is suggesting the we believe you campaign replaces the judicial process, right?

Anyway, RL stuff to do now. Hope you get all your cards cancelled and that you didn't lose too much cash.

There's a saying that rape is the only crime where it is the victim who has to prove their innocence...

All cards cancelled, vey little cash in it - and reported theft to a PS Williams

Thanks.

If, like me, you report that theft to the police (numerous times for various thefts of varying values), and they don't take it any further (a phone call if you're lucky - despite it being stolen in a place covered by CCTV, and an exact time for instance), does that mean that your wallet wasn't stolen though?

Of course not. And that's what the we believe you campaign is about.

I would say that rather than 'believing' something, I would want all complaints taken seriously and appropriate action taken to discover the truth of the matter.

That;s nice but we live in a world where rape has basically no chance of conviction and where the victim will almost always suffer after the assault from people judging her actions/ her clothes/ her motives

She will be shamed.

SO while we live in that world do you think it's a bad thing for people to let the victim know she'd believed?

Chunky & Fuck Off

If you believe, then that's that. Some people might want a little more.

Buff y

Why ? do you want a little more?

Buffy It's the word 'believe' I struggle with. If a person tells me, that a crime has been committed against them - with no supporting evidence - my first instinct is to try to keep an open mind - I don't find myself necessarily believing them - maybe, however, I should tell that I do. Will that help them ?

MEOD - My daughter doesn't get distressed without good reason, so I'm inclined to believe something has happened.

buffy - Ok, if you think it'll help. Just hope they don't ask why I say that believe them

Buffy When MEOD asked the question about my daughter, I thought about her - my daughter - coming home in distress. I answered the question asked of me.

You could say, "because it would be ridiculous to disbelieve you, when the statistics show that it is highly unlikely that you would ever put yourself through the stress of a rape trial when you are almost entirely unlikely to get a conviction?"

Or you could just say. "because I do".

Right and other women? Do they exhibit distress without good reason, in your experience?

You can normally get a feel for whether posters here are posting in distress though.

And of course (see Keir Stamer again) - not all victims present as distressed. If your DD came home angry, or matter of fact, or withdrawn, would you believe her?

Let's not talk about his daughter. I want to know if Cadno had a man rape him would he expect to be believed or would he think it would be fair for people to question if he actually wanted it?