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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/20/problem-rape-prosecution-women-lying-collapse-liam-allan-victims
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| Yes, there’s a major problem with rape prosecutions. But it’s not that women are lying | Yes, there’s a major problem with rape prosecutions. But it’s not that women are lying |
| (11 days later) | |
| I once wrote, in an article about how damn near impossible it is to convict a sex offender, that rape might as well be legal. I think we live in a climate where those who make complaints of rape are generally disbelieved, and the men guilty of it are generally excused, or assumed to be innocent. | I once wrote, in an article about how damn near impossible it is to convict a sex offender, that rape might as well be legal. I think we live in a climate where those who make complaints of rape are generally disbelieved, and the men guilty of it are generally excused, or assumed to be innocent. |
| Nothing has happened to change my mind, not least the news that the Metropolitan police is to review all pending rape cases after the collapse of a second trial within a week because of police failure to disclose evidence that might have undermined the prosecution. The decision has led to suggestions that there is an epidemic of false rape allegations and that the police, desperate to improve lamentable conviction rates in rape or sex abuse cases, are making basic errors with evidence. | Nothing has happened to change my mind, not least the news that the Metropolitan police is to review all pending rape cases after the collapse of a second trial within a week because of police failure to disclose evidence that might have undermined the prosecution. The decision has led to suggestions that there is an epidemic of false rape allegations and that the police, desperate to improve lamentable conviction rates in rape or sex abuse cases, are making basic errors with evidence. |
| Jerry Hayes, prosecution barrister in the case of Liam Allan, whose rape trial was halted last week, claimed in a BBC interview on Wednesday that late disclosure of evidence by police was endemic. Angela Rafferty, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, suggested that “unconscious bias” against alleged rapists was stopping the Crown Prosecution Service from thoroughly investigating allegations. | Jerry Hayes, prosecution barrister in the case of Liam Allan, whose rape trial was halted last week, claimed in a BBC interview on Wednesday that late disclosure of evidence by police was endemic. Angela Rafferty, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, suggested that “unconscious bias” against alleged rapists was stopping the Crown Prosecution Service from thoroughly investigating allegations. |
| But police failure to disclose relevant evidence across all types of case, not just those involving rape, is well-documented. Meanwhile, there are serious problems in the way that police officers, even those trained within specialist units, investigate sex crimes. The concerns about the handful of false allegations, often known as women “crying rape”, are not just disproportionate to the tiny percentage of rapes that end in a conviction, but represent wilful propaganda when we are in fact dealing with rape culture. | But police failure to disclose relevant evidence across all types of case, not just those involving rape, is well-documented. Meanwhile, there are serious problems in the way that police officers, even those trained within specialist units, investigate sex crimes. The concerns about the handful of false allegations, often known as women “crying rape”, are not just disproportionate to the tiny percentage of rapes that end in a conviction, but represent wilful propaganda when we are in fact dealing with rape culture. |
| Why are more people not up in arms about the huge numbers of false assertions of men’s innocence; false allegations of women’s complicity; and false allegations of how women deserve or enjoy non-consensual sex? After all, significant numbers of women, and some men, are raped, sexually assaulted, sexually harassed, and sexually violated, and we know that it is more likely that the actual rape victim will end up in prison (as a result of the damage done to her and the knock-on effects throughout her life) than her rapist. | Why are more people not up in arms about the huge numbers of false assertions of men’s innocence; false allegations of women’s complicity; and false allegations of how women deserve or enjoy non-consensual sex? After all, significant numbers of women, and some men, are raped, sexually assaulted, sexually harassed, and sexually violated, and we know that it is more likely that the actual rape victim will end up in prison (as a result of the damage done to her and the knock-on effects throughout her life) than her rapist. |
| Where is the outrage about the women who never get justice? How much coverage is devoted to the tiny number of false rape allegations, compared with the crisis in the criminal justice system in terms of convicting those guilty of heinous sex crimes? | Where is the outrage about the women who never get justice? How much coverage is devoted to the tiny number of false rape allegations, compared with the crisis in the criminal justice system in terms of convicting those guilty of heinous sex crimes? |
| The lack of resources that can lead to poor police practice disproportionately affects the victims of crime | The lack of resources that can lead to poor police practice disproportionately affects the victims of crime |
| We also need to ask what is “disclosable evidence” in rape cases and why. I have heard countless examples of how a complainant’s counselling records have been requested by the defence team, in order that her words can be picked over so that inconsistencies and holes in her story can be found. This is outrageous, as the trauma experienced by rape victims usually leads to confusion and fragmented memories. Knowing that the intimate details that a complainant shares with her counsellor immediately following disclosure of rape might be read out in court would put even the strongest and most determined woman off seeking that help. Similarly, the “lack of resources” that Hayes said could lead to poor police practice disproportionately affects the victims of crime rather than the accused. Rape crisis centres and other support services for women who have been sexually assaulted are either grossly underfunded or have closed down. Without this vital support and advocacy from those who understand the complex intricacies of sexual assault, convictions are even harder to come by. | We also need to ask what is “disclosable evidence” in rape cases and why. I have heard countless examples of how a complainant’s counselling records have been requested by the defence team, in order that her words can be picked over so that inconsistencies and holes in her story can be found. This is outrageous, as the trauma experienced by rape victims usually leads to confusion and fragmented memories. Knowing that the intimate details that a complainant shares with her counsellor immediately following disclosure of rape might be read out in court would put even the strongest and most determined woman off seeking that help. Similarly, the “lack of resources” that Hayes said could lead to poor police practice disproportionately affects the victims of crime rather than the accused. Rape crisis centres and other support services for women who have been sexually assaulted are either grossly underfunded or have closed down. Without this vital support and advocacy from those who understand the complex intricacies of sexual assault, convictions are even harder to come by. |
| There continue to be problems with police competence in investigating rape. I have monitored a number of rape trials and have seen the despair on the faces of the prosecution team when police admit that they didn’t gather important evidence at the scene, or failed to interview key witnesses. In the vast majority of cases where the police get it wrong, it has a negative impact on the complainant, not the defendant. | There continue to be problems with police competence in investigating rape. I have monitored a number of rape trials and have seen the despair on the faces of the prosecution team when police admit that they didn’t gather important evidence at the scene, or failed to interview key witnesses. In the vast majority of cases where the police get it wrong, it has a negative impact on the complainant, not the defendant. |
| Ten years ago I interviewed a young woman who, while still in her teens, was gang raped in a park in London. One of the rapists filmed her abuse to make his own personal pornography. She called 999 when the men ran away, and reported the rapes. She had been raped before, and once she told police this, their attitude changed; it became clear they considered her a “loose woman” and accused her of being “mentally unsound”. The police bungled the investigation from the beginning, not even bothering to arrest any of the men. They considered the footage to be evidence that she had consented to sex with the men, despite the fact that it was a record of her rape. | Ten years ago I interviewed a young woman who, while still in her teens, was gang raped in a park in London. One of the rapists filmed her abuse to make his own personal pornography. She called 999 when the men ran away, and reported the rapes. She had been raped before, and once she told police this, their attitude changed; it became clear they considered her a “loose woman” and accused her of being “mentally unsound”. The police bungled the investigation from the beginning, not even bothering to arrest any of the men. They considered the footage to be evidence that she had consented to sex with the men, despite the fact that it was a record of her rape. |
| A month after the rapes, officers from the Sapphire team arrested her for perverting the course of justice, having decided she was lying. She was initially cautioned but subsequently launched a legal challenge and the caution was wiped. The men were never convicted. | A month after the rapes, officers from the Sapphire team arrested her for perverting the course of justice, having decided she was lying. She was initially cautioned but subsequently launched a legal challenge and the caution was wiped. The men were never convicted. |
| I have heard countless stories like this. Every time a case like the Allan one comes up, it would be easy to assume that scores of women are falsely reporting rape as some sort of revenge or leisure activity, and that our prisons are full of men who are innocent of crimes against women and girls. Bearing in mind that only 6% of rape cases in this country end up with a rape conviction, that would mean 94% of women who report it are lying. If the same amount of fuss was made about every bungled police investigation and criminal trial involving sexual assault where the accused walked free, it would be impossible for the press and social media to keep up. | I have heard countless stories like this. Every time a case like the Allan one comes up, it would be easy to assume that scores of women are falsely reporting rape as some sort of revenge or leisure activity, and that our prisons are full of men who are innocent of crimes against women and girls. Bearing in mind that only 6% of rape cases in this country end up with a rape conviction, that would mean 94% of women who report it are lying. If the same amount of fuss was made about every bungled police investigation and criminal trial involving sexual assault where the accused walked free, it would be impossible for the press and social media to keep up. |
| Some male commentators have accused the CPS of “political correctness” for believing women who report rape. I personally am glad that all pending rape prosecutions are now being investigated by the Met. Perhaps we might address the abomination of such a low conviction rate for rape? This could be a very welcome outcome for the thousands of women and girls who have been dismally let down by the system. | Some male commentators have accused the CPS of “political correctness” for believing women who report rape. I personally am glad that all pending rape prosecutions are now being investigated by the Met. Perhaps we might address the abomination of such a low conviction rate for rape? This could be a very welcome outcome for the thousands of women and girls who have been dismally let down by the system. |
| • Julie Bindel is a freelance journalist and political activist, and a founder of Justice for Women | • Julie Bindel is a freelance journalist and political activist, and a founder of Justice for Women |
| Rape and sexual assault | Rape and sexual assault |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| Metropolitan police | Metropolitan police |
| Crown Prosecution Service | Crown Prosecution Service |
| London | London |
| Police | Police |
| Gender | Gender |
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