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New deal for rape victims urged Call for better rape victim care
(about 8 hours later)
Every rape victim should have a specialist adviser to support them after an attack, a major review in England and Wales has recommended. A new approach is needed to give greater priority to the care and support of rape victims, a major review in England and Wales has said.
The review's author, Baroness Stern, said that police and prosecutors should give greater priority to the victim. The review's author, cross-bench peer Baroness Stern, said debate has been too focused on rape conviction rates.
She said that the debate over rape was too focused on convictions, rather than the wider needs of the victim. Her recommendations include offering every rape victim a specialist adviser to support them after an attack.
The report for ministers makes 23 recommendations but says some police are doing the right things already. The report acknowledged attitudes and practices have improved but said implementation had been patchy.
Lady Stern, a prisons reformer and independent peer, was commissioned by ministers to review how police, prosecutors and other bodies deal with complaints of rape. Lady Stern, a prisons reformer, was commissioned by ministers to review how police, prosecutors and other bodies deal with complaints of rape.
During her five-month study she talked to more than 200 people ranging from rape victims to police officers.During her five-month study she talked to more than 200 people ranging from rape victims to police officers.
Lady Stern said there should be a new approach to how victims are dealt with and cared for, regardless of how the criminal investigation was carried out.Lady Stern said there should be a new approach to how victims are dealt with and cared for, regardless of how the criminal investigation was carried out.
'Abysmal' treatment'Abysmal' treatment
She called for a network of independent professional advisers to support a victim after they come forward. She called for a network of independent professional advisers to support a victim after he or she come forward.
The obligations the state has to those who have suffered a violent crime, and a crime that strikes at the whole concept of human dignity and bodily integrity, are much wider than working for the conviction of a perpetrator Baroness SternThe obligations the state has to those who have suffered a violent crime, and a crime that strikes at the whole concept of human dignity and bodily integrity, are much wider than working for the conviction of a perpetrator Baroness Stern
The advisers' tasks would be to explain police procedures, provide a link between the victim and detectives, and support the victim in court.The advisers' tasks would be to explain police procedures, provide a link between the victim and detectives, and support the victim in court.
Similar schemes have already been piloted in some parts of England and Wales, but campaigners say they should be universally available. Similar schemes have been piloted in some parts of England and Wales.
Lady Stern's review also backed the use of independent centres, known as Sarcs (Sexual Abuse Referral Centres), saying they needed to be in every police force in England and Wales by 2011.Lady Stern's review also backed the use of independent centres, known as Sarcs (Sexual Abuse Referral Centres), saying they needed to be in every police force in England and Wales by 2011.
Sarcs enable victims to receive counselling and other help, including medical examinations, without having to speak to the police.Sarcs enable victims to receive counselling and other help, including medical examinations, without having to speak to the police.
Lady Stern also hit out the treatment victims of alleged rape received from police and prosecutors. Lady Stern hit out at the treatment victims of alleged rape received from police and prosecutors.
She said that, while in some areas victims received the best possible support, in other areas they were treated abysmally. She said that while in some areas victims received the best possible support, in other areas they were treated abysmally.
While prosecuting and convicting was important, her view was that support and care for victims should be as high a priority. She said support and care for victims should be given as high a priority as prosecution and conviction of perpetrators.
It was also "completely unacceptable", she said, for police and prosecutors to lose interest in a victim whose complaint was not going to lead to a conviction. It was also "completely unacceptable" for police and prosecutors to lose interest in a victim whose complaint was not going to lead to a conviction.
RAPE IN ENGLAND AND WALES 13,093: Rapes recorded by police in 2008-09Victims: 12,029 women; 964 menActual number of rapes thought to be far higherNumber of reports rising 10,200 prosecutions March 2006 - 2009 58% conviction rate in those prosecutionsRAPE IN ENGLAND AND WALES 13,093: Rapes recorded by police in 2008-09Victims: 12,029 women; 964 menActual number of rapes thought to be far higherNumber of reports rising 10,200 prosecutions March 2006 - 2009 58% conviction rate in those prosecutions
"The obligations the state has to those who have suffered a violent crime, and a crime that strikes at the whole concept of human dignity and bodily integrity, are much wider than working for the conviction of a perpetrator."The obligations the state has to those who have suffered a violent crime, and a crime that strikes at the whole concept of human dignity and bodily integrity, are much wider than working for the conviction of a perpetrator.
"The victim must be treated as a whole person. With rape, it is always going to be difficult to be sure that you'll be able to prove it to the jury beyond reasonable doubt."The victim must be treated as a whole person. With rape, it is always going to be difficult to be sure that you'll be able to prove it to the jury beyond reasonable doubt.
"I talked to a lot of victims and they accepted that. What they felt was really important was not in the end if they could get a conviction, what they said was, we still feel we want to be believed.""I talked to a lot of victims and they accepted that. What they felt was really important was not in the end if they could get a conviction, what they said was, we still feel we want to be believed."
One woman, who spoke to the BBC anonymously, said the police did not seem interested when she told them she had been raped by a man she was in a relationship with.
"I felt I was a thorn in their side. They did not really want to bother with you because it was too difficult. They would much rather deal with the crimes that they can quickly tick the box and move on."
But Lisa Longstaff, from campaign group Women Against Rape, said police must focus on justice, not caring for victims.
"Women do not go to the police to get care, they go to the police to get protection and justice."
'Dignity and respect'
The report also called for the NHS to take over responsibility from the police for the forensic medical examination of victims.The report also called for the NHS to take over responsibility from the police for the forensic medical examination of victims.
Lady Stern said that proposals for victims to have their own special lawyer in court, alongside the prosecutor and defendant's representative, were "worthy of consideration". Lady Stern said proposals for victims to have their own special lawyer in court, alongside the prosecutor and defendant's representative, were "worthy of consideration".
For the government, Solicitor General Vera Baird said much had already been improved in combating rape.For the government, Solicitor General Vera Baird said much had already been improved in combating rape.
"Public perception of the way rape complaints are handled lags behind reality. We warmly welcome Baroness Stern's report that acknowledges the significant improvements we have made since 1997, but also identifies where work remains to be done."Public perception of the way rape complaints are handled lags behind reality. We warmly welcome Baroness Stern's report that acknowledges the significant improvements we have made since 1997, but also identifies where work remains to be done.
"We want all victims to feel confident that when they come forward and report rapes it will be taken seriously and they will be treated with dignity and respect.''"We want all victims to feel confident that when they come forward and report rapes it will be taken seriously and they will be treated with dignity and respect.''