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| Call for better rape victim care | Call for better rape victim care |
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| 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. | 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, crossbench peer Baroness Stern, said debate had been too focused on rape conviction rates. | The review's author, crossbench peer Baroness Stern, said debate had been too focused on rape conviction rates. |
| Her recommendations include offering every rape victim a specialist adviser to help them recover after an attack. | Her recommendations include offering every rape victim a specialist adviser to help them recover after an attack. |
| The report acknowledged attitudes and practices had improved but said implementation had been patchy. | The report acknowledged attitudes and practices had improved but said implementation had been patchy. |
| Lady Stern, a prisons reformer, 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, including rape victims and police officers. | During her five-month study, she talked to more than 200 people, including rape victims and police officers. |
| Lady Stern said there should be a new approach to how victims were 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 were dealt with and cared for, regardless of how the criminal investigation was carried out. |
| She said support and care for victims should be given as high a priority as prosecution and conviction of perpetrators. | She said support and care for victims should be given as high a priority as prosecution and conviction of perpetrators. |
| 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 prosecutions | |
| 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, she said. | 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, she said. |
| "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," she said. | "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," she said. |
| "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." |
| But Lisa Longstaff, from campaign group Women Against Rape, said police must focus on justice not caring for victims. | 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." | "Women do not go to the police to get care, they go to the police to get protection and justice." |
| 'Abysmal' treatment | 'Abysmal' treatment |
| Other key recommendations outlined in the report include: | Other key recommendations outlined in the report include: |
| • A network of independent professional advisers to support a victim after she or he comes forward. Their role would be to explain police procedures, provide a link between the victim and detectives, and support the victim in court. Similar schemes have been piloted in some parts of England and Wales | • A network of independent professional advisers to support a victim after she or he comes forward. Their role would be to explain police procedures, provide a link between the victim and detectives, and support the victim in court. Similar schemes have been piloted in some parts of England and Wales |
| • Forensic medical evidence should be gathered by the NHS, not the police | • Forensic medical evidence should be gathered by the NHS, not the police |
| • The expansion of Sexual Abuse Referral Centres (Sarcs) to every police force in England and Wales by 2011. At these centres, victims receive counselling and other help, including medical examinations, without having to speak to the police | • The expansion of Sexual Abuse Referral Centres (Sarcs) to every police force in England and Wales by 2011. At these centres, victims receive counselling and other help, including medical examinations, without having to speak to the police |
| • Consideration of proposals for victims to have their own special lawyer in court, alongside the prosecutor and defendant's representative | • Consideration of proposals for victims to have their own special lawyer in court, alongside the prosecutor and defendant's representative |
| Lady Stern hit out at 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. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| 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. |
| One woman called Gabrielle, the victim of an attempted rape in 2003, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I was treated worse than something you accidentally tread on. | One woman called Gabrielle, the victim of an attempted rape in 2003, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I was treated worse than something you accidentally tread on. |
| "Victims need to be treated as a human being first and a piece of evidence second." | "Victims need to be treated as a human being first and a piece of evidence second." |
| Another 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. | Another 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." | "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." |
| 'Dignity and respect' | 'Dignity and respect' |
| 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.'' |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |