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| Police try to reassure sexual assault victims after Ched Evans verdict Police try to reassure sexual assault victims after Ched Evans verdict | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The lead police officer on sex crimes for England and Wales sought to reassure victims they would be treated sensitively and seriously in the wake of the outcry over Ched Evans’ rape acquittal. | The lead police officer on sex crimes for England and Wales sought to reassure victims they would be treated sensitively and seriously in the wake of the outcry over Ched Evans’ rape acquittal. |
| There has been a storm of criticism from women’s rights campaigners who fear victims may be reluctant to come forward having seen the sexual history and behaviour of the complainant in the Evans case being put before the jury in explicit detail. | There has been a storm of criticism from women’s rights campaigners who fear victims may be reluctant to come forward having seen the sexual history and behaviour of the complainant in the Evans case being put before the jury in explicit detail. |
| The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for adult sex offences, assistant commissioner Martin Hewitt, told the Guardian on Monday that forces would do all they could to support victims. “I want to assure victims of rape or sexual offences that they can report to us in the knowledge that they will be listened to, treated sensitively and with respect, and that their allegations will be taken seriously.” | The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for adult sex offences, assistant commissioner Martin Hewitt, told the Guardian on Monday that forces would do all they could to support victims. “I want to assure victims of rape or sexual offences that they can report to us in the knowledge that they will be listened to, treated sensitively and with respect, and that their allegations will be taken seriously.” |
| The Evans case has happened at a hugely sensitive time. Last week it emerged that the number of rapes recorded by police has doubled in the past four years – while the percentage of allegations resulting in conviction has fallen. | The Evans case has happened at a hugely sensitive time. Last week it emerged that the number of rapes recorded by police has doubled in the past four years – while the percentage of allegations resulting in conviction has fallen. |
| Hewitt, a Met police officer, added: “We will do everything we can to take cases through the criminal justice system. The police are also able to help victims access specialist support services and medical treatment if they have not already done so. We will support victims of sexual offences in pursuing the route that is right for them.” | Hewitt, a Met police officer, added: “We will do everything we can to take cases through the criminal justice system. The police are also able to help victims access specialist support services and medical treatment if they have not already done so. We will support victims of sexual offences in pursuing the route that is right for them.” |
| Evans, 27, a Welsh international and former Manchester City and Sheffield United striker, spent two and half years in prison after being convicted of raping a 19-year-old waitress at a hotel near the seaside town of Rhyl in north Wales. | Evans, 27, a Welsh international and former Manchester City and Sheffield United striker, spent two and half years in prison after being convicted of raping a 19-year-old waitress at a hotel near the seaside town of Rhyl in north Wales. |
| A high-profile campaign was launched to clear his name, which included the offer of a £50,000 reward for information leading to his acquittal. | A high-profile campaign was launched to clear his name, which included the offer of a £50,000 reward for information leading to his acquittal. |
| The appeal court quashed his conviction and ordered a retrial after new testimony was found from two witnesses who described the complainants’ sexual behaviour with them. It meant the complainant was questioned in excruciating detail in open court about intimate details of her sex life. Evans was found not guilty of rape by a jury at Cardiff crown court on Friday. | The appeal court quashed his conviction and ordered a retrial after new testimony was found from two witnesses who described the complainants’ sexual behaviour with them. It meant the complainant was questioned in excruciating detail in open court about intimate details of her sex life. Evans was found not guilty of rape by a jury at Cardiff crown court on Friday. |
| Rachel Krys, co-director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said her organisation would work with lawyers to examine the detail of the appeal court decision. “We want to understand how exactly this happened and make sure this is not giving the green light for defence barristers to get complainants’ sexual history into court except in the most exception of circumstances,” she said. | Rachel Krys, co-director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said her organisation would work with lawyers to examine the detail of the appeal court decision. “We want to understand how exactly this happened and make sure this is not giving the green light for defence barristers to get complainants’ sexual history into court except in the most exception of circumstances,” she said. |
| Lisa Longstaff, of Woman Against Rape (WAR), said it was concerned the case could provide a “gateway” for defence lawyers to routinely question alleged victims about their sexual history. WAR is planning to meet female MPs to lobby them on the issue. | Lisa Longstaff, of Woman Against Rape (WAR), said it was concerned the case could provide a “gateway” for defence lawyers to routinely question alleged victims about their sexual history. WAR is planning to meet female MPs to lobby them on the issue. |
| Meanwhile, within a few hours of going live, more than 300 people donated to an appeal to raise money to be split between the complainant and the organisation Rape Crisis. | Meanwhile, within a few hours of going live, more than 300 people donated to an appeal to raise money to be split between the complainant and the organisation Rape Crisis. |
| The appeal was launched by a feminist activist who goes by the pseudonym Jean Hatchet, who was behind petitions that asked football clubs not to sign Evans following his jail term. She is aiming to raise £50,000 – matching the reward offered by Evans’ camp. | The appeal was launched by a feminist activist who goes by the pseudonym Jean Hatchet, who was behind petitions that asked football clubs not to sign Evans following his jail term. She is aiming to raise £50,000 – matching the reward offered by Evans’ camp. |
| Hatchet said the woman had been hounded, harassed, bullied and smeared in the years since the incident in 2011. “We don’t know how she has endured such an ordeal,” she said. “She sought nothing but help one morning when she awoke not knowing where she was or what had happened to her. What followed was not help, but hell.” | Hatchet said the woman had been hounded, harassed, bullied and smeared in the years since the incident in 2011. “We don’t know how she has endured such an ordeal,” she said. “She sought nothing but help one morning when she awoke not knowing where she was or what had happened to her. What followed was not help, but hell.” |
| There have been unconfirmed reports that the complainant is contemplating leaving the UK for Australia to escape the abuse. | There have been unconfirmed reports that the complainant is contemplating leaving the UK for Australia to escape the abuse. |