Woman arrested "had intially been mistaken for a man"

[User27aw]

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/exclusive-three-more-women-attacked-by-knife-wielding-suspect-in-east-dulwich/

From the article:

"Today (June 15) a 53-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and remains in custody while enquiries continue.

Police say they believe she is the only suspect, and had initially been mistaken for a man. "

Who had mistaken her for a man. The police? The victims?

The police have arrested the perpetrator. Everything else is totally irrelevant.

Its not irrelevant.

Not if the police are giving out false information about the sex.

Or the perp ends up on custody with members of the opposite sex.

Or of the police officers are having to search someone based on gender or not sex.

Or if the locals Dont feel safe due to the mystery surrounding the whole thing.

And how this crime is recorded matters

@Whatwouldscullydo

And how this crime is recorded matters

Yes that’s the biggest problem with it, and will be the hardest rectify when the madness is over.

@Iusedtoliveinsanfrancisco

The police have arrested the perpetrator. Everything else is totally irrelevant.

What if there are other victims? They're not going to know if they are other victims if the sex is wrong...

It matters for statistics and it matters for women to feel supported as victims

Victims may need counselling after violent attacks ESPECIALLY if they are attacked by a trans person and the police/ courts have to report this way

Yes there are butch women and effeminate men BUT let's put the victim first. They deserve truth, respect and help after the attack.

The conviction rate of crimes by men on women is shocking and this is in part down to change in advice for prosecutors.

There is a massive difference between a Crime and a conviction. Women are often left without justice.

#Victimsfirst

@RickiTarr

I think “initially mistaken for a man” is an incredibly useful phrase. I am going to tuck it in my bra strap for future deployment.

Yes, it certainly paints a picture 🤔

The age thing is really confusing.

Not forgetting the issue that presented itself in Ireland which put inmates at risk.

I dont know what it's like here but in Ireland there was an article where male prison officers aren't allowed to search oates who say they are women. But the female officers aren't allowed to search In tact males.

A policy that will mean that drugs and weapons may well get through the checks and result in the death or injury of staff or inmates.

The sex matters here very much

So I think the options are:

1. All four women, and the 10 year old, are lying about being attacked by a man.

Or

1. All four women, and the 10 year old, are mistaken about being attacked by a man.

Or

1. The police have arrested the wrong person.

Or

1. The police are mis-sexing the suspect.

1 and 2 seem distinctly unlikely. I can't decide which, of 3 and 4, is worse.

Mis-gendering is the ultimate crime.

3 is also v unlikely IMO. Given the huge gulf between how the police, and how the women, describe the suspect they must be very sure.

I probably wouldn't be very surprised to find that the person arrested appears in every way to be a man.

Do we know for sure that all the victims and the child said it was a man? Or could it just have been the first victim and/or her child?

A 5’7” masculine presenting woman might appear in a stressful situation to be a younger man.

I think it would be possible for one person to make this mistake but it sounds like all four victims and eyewitnesses gave similar descriptions so I think it's less likely they are all mistaken.

I agree with PP, either the perpetrator was male or the police have arrested the wrong person. How will witnesses know to come forward if they don't recognise the description of the perpetrator as someone they may have seen around the time of the attacks.

I also wonder how this will work in court if the witness statements all say male and the police put a "woman" in the dock, the court will have to mis gender to account for the discrepancy and secure a conviction. If they fault to secure a conviction because of the discrepancy then they will have failed in their duty to the public.

I agree with PP, either the perpetrator was male or the police have arrested the wrong person.

The first woman who was attacked seems to believe they have the right person. She didn't say woman, it's all very strange.

@Signalbox

I think it would be possible for one person to make this mistake but it sounds like all four victims and eyewitnesses gave similar descriptions so I think it's less likely they are all mistaken.

You are probably right. I just know I am the sort of person who could get this wrong in a highly stressful situation and especially if they were in very masculine attire with a cap and boyish figure and I wasn't wearing my glasses and they didn't speak. I would be more likely to mistake a female person for a male person than the other way around though.

I really doubt it. When you're attacked you take in not so much looks but the sense of the person. I didn't even see my attacker but what I did convey to police was enough for them to find him within two hours.

"I think it would be possible for one person to make this mistake but it sounds like all four victims and eyewitnesses gave similar descriptions so I think it's less likely they are all mistaken."

I have only seen it reported that the first victim (or possibly her child) said it was a man, it feels like someone said that on this thread and now people are taking that as fact

I have only seen it reported that the first victim (or possibly her child) said it was a man, it feels like someone said that on this thread and now people are taking that as fact

You're right, I got the impression it was all the victims and some eyewitnesses from comments, I'd seen, made by people who lived locally. The reporting and police statement about the arrest are certainly very confusing.

@Signalbox

It wouldn't be the first time the press had printed a totally inaccurate report.

it seems to marry up with what has been written on that local forum