This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/20/police-slag-bitch-justice-alex-faragher-women-victims-crime

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
If police called a woman 'slag' and 'bitch', what chance justice? If police called a woman 'slag' and 'bitch', what does that mean for justice?
(35 minutes later)
Whenever I forget for a moment that there are still men in this society who hold women in the utmost contempt, who strive to diminish and belittle us, it is never be too long before some disgusting example of sexist behaviour turns up to remind me. It's much like the old adage patted out to sex-starved singletons: you spend ages waiting for a misogynist and then two come along at once. In this case, it comes in the form of two West Midlands police officers who are alleged to have accidentally left a message on the voicemail of a suspected teenage victim of domestic violence calling her a "fucking bitch" and a "slag". Excellent work on the part of the police there.Whenever I forget for a moment that there are still men in this society who hold women in the utmost contempt, who strive to diminish and belittle us, it is never be too long before some disgusting example of sexist behaviour turns up to remind me. It's much like the old adage patted out to sex-starved singletons: you spend ages waiting for a misogynist and then two come along at once. In this case, it comes in the form of two West Midlands police officers who are alleged to have accidentally left a message on the voicemail of a suspected teenage victim of domestic violence calling her a "fucking bitch" and a "slag". Excellent work on the part of the police there.
"I was shell-shocked. It's horrifying. I feel so sick and upset," Alex Faragher told a reporter, adding: "It was like being assaulted all over again." Such words will be all too familiar to female victims of male violence, who again and again describe the process of dealing with the police and the court system as worse than the original ordeal. In some ways I am amazed that Faragher went to the police station under her own steam to make a statement after that; I'm not sure how many women would have done. "What if this had been a rape victim and these kinds of comments were being used?" she asked. What indeed."I was shell-shocked. It's horrifying. I feel so sick and upset," Alex Faragher told a reporter, adding: "It was like being assaulted all over again." Such words will be all too familiar to female victims of male violence, who again and again describe the process of dealing with the police and the court system as worse than the original ordeal. In some ways I am amazed that Faragher went to the police station under her own steam to make a statement after that; I'm not sure how many women would have done. "What if this had been a rape victim and these kinds of comments were being used?" she asked. What indeed.
Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, has written in the Times warning of new forms of victim-blaming in the wake of the Savile scandal. "It used to be that if a rape victim wore a short skirt her credibility was undermined. Thankfully we have moved on," she said. "Now we must be careful not to establish new myths that victims come forward only for financial or other motives."Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, has written in the Times warning of new forms of victim-blaming in the wake of the Savile scandal. "It used to be that if a rape victim wore a short skirt her credibility was undermined. Thankfully we have moved on," she said. "Now we must be careful not to establish new myths that victims come forward only for financial or other motives."
It appears, in light of recent coverage, that rape and sexual assault are the only crimes where, following an acquittal, the accuser is roundly trounced as a liar. We know that rape predates short skirts and compensation, and that it affects men and children too, yet the myths remain. Faragher is right to highlight the impact such words would have on a young woman who has decided to come forward to make such an accusation, but this does not in turn lessen what has happened to her. Her treatment was atrocious, and is yet another example of how the justice system, a system created by men largely to deal with the criminality of other men, systematically fails women.It appears, in light of recent coverage, that rape and sexual assault are the only crimes where, following an acquittal, the accuser is roundly trounced as a liar. We know that rape predates short skirts and compensation, and that it affects men and children too, yet the myths remain. Faragher is right to highlight the impact such words would have on a young woman who has decided to come forward to make such an accusation, but this does not in turn lessen what has happened to her. Her treatment was atrocious, and is yet another example of how the justice system, a system created by men largely to deal with the criminality of other men, systematically fails women.
Faragher said she believed that, had there been a woman in the car at the time the message was recorded, the police officers would not have used such language. I'm not so sure. Women are perfectly capable of internalising misogyny – it was not so long ago that Barbara Hewson, a human rights barrister, told newspapers that rape victims can be morally responsible for their ordeals. The case against Faragher's partner has been discontinued. Refuge has used Faragher's case as an opportunity to point out how the police are failing female victims of domestic violence.Faragher said she believed that, had there been a woman in the car at the time the message was recorded, the police officers would not have used such language. I'm not so sure. Women are perfectly capable of internalising misogyny – it was not so long ago that Barbara Hewson, a human rights barrister, told newspapers that rape victims can be morally responsible for their ordeals. The case against Faragher's partner has been discontinued. Refuge has used Faragher's case as an opportunity to point out how the police are failing female victims of domestic violence.
I'd like to make one final point, about the word "slag". As in this case, it is often used as a term of abuse against women who dare to challenge perceived male authority. I have lost count of the number of times I have been called a slag for refusing to accept a man's advances or to respond to street harassment. It is still the go-to word used to describe those who dare to accuse footballers of rape. I have yet to meet a woman who, in some form or another, hasn't been called a slag or a slut. Now I welcome Faragher to our ranks. It can hurt like hell, but it's a reason to keep fighting.I'd like to make one final point, about the word "slag". As in this case, it is often used as a term of abuse against women who dare to challenge perceived male authority. I have lost count of the number of times I have been called a slag for refusing to accept a man's advances or to respond to street harassment. It is still the go-to word used to describe those who dare to accuse footballers of rape. I have yet to meet a woman who, in some form or another, hasn't been called a slag or a slut. Now I welcome Faragher to our ranks. It can hurt like hell, but it's a reason to keep fighting.