Better training needed to support rape victims
Training for frontline police staff must be improved to encourage more rape victims
to come forward, a conference has heard
Yvonne Traynor, service director for a rape and sexual abuse support centre, said a rape victims early contact with the police often discouraged them from pursuing their complaint.
She told delegates: “A raised eyebrow, a sigh or an unreturned telephone call is all it takes for a woman to blame herself.
“They dont think they will be believed. What they need is patience, understanding, empathy and unconditional respect.”
Her views were echoed by Martyn Sullivan, the national resource co-ordinator of Survivors UK the charity that helps male rape victims.
Speaking at the Capita conference on tackling rape issues, he said: “Unskilled front-desk workers have led men into thinking they will not be taken seriously.”
He warned that mistrust of the police among the gay community also led to under-reporting, although male rape is not confined to the homosexual community.
“Past experience with the police means they dont view them as friendly or helpful, but as the enemy.”
Mr Sullivan expressed disappointment at the lack of emphasis placed on investigating male rapes by the service.
“There needs to be greater training and awareness at all levels. We used to take part in a training day with the Met, but for one reason or another that has ended and I am not sure why.”
Between 1995 and 2003, an estimated half a million adult males were raped, of which less than one per cent reported the crime to the police. Three hundred and fifty five men were found guilty.
DCI Dave Osborn, who leads Project Sapphire, the Mets response to rape investigations, said the force recognised the importance of this, and front counter staff receive special training on dealing with rape victims. In the Met, a third of rape cases are reported at front counters.
John Yates, ACPO lead on rape and Deputy Assistant Commissioner in the Met, said focusing on victims needs was the biggest single factor for improving rape investigations.
“We know that if a woman makes an immediate complaint following the attack, there is a 73 per cent chance of conviction. Late reporting of one to three days reduces this reduces to 38 per cent.
“Immediate reporting gets us the freshest evidence, but if they dont think they are going to be believed and receive a professional and sympathetic response there will be delays in coming forward,” said Mr Yates.
Det Supt Steve Heywood, head of Greater Manchester Polices public protection unit said the starting point needed to be accepting the complaints as truth.
“Officers need to understand that the majority of rape complaints are genuine. If we can increase the conviction rate, that is a bonus. The first issue has to be that the victim gets the care that they need.”
Mr Yates described as `shameful` the statistics indicating that 95 per cent of rapes go unreported because many women do not expect to be believed. Of those cases that do get to court, three out four defendants are cleared.
“The statistics are a wake up call for all of us. They are dreadful,” added Mr Yates.
Yvonne Traynor said the figures showed the current system was patently not working.
Home Office Minister Paul Goggins also called the rate of attrition for rape cases unacceptably high, particularly in the investigative stage.
“While there is no doubt that good practice exists, there is clearly a need for more to be done in this area if we are to provide justice for victims, and convict more of the guilty.”
The service is facing a re-inspection into how it investigates rape cases early next year. The Government, ACPO and the CPS will first do a stock-take of progress on the Rape Action plan this summer, along with research into detection rates in rape cases. A follow up inspection by HMIC and HMCPSI of their 2002 joint inspection into the Investigation and Prosecution of Cases involving Allegations of Rape will begin next year.
Mr Yates revealed that ACPO are due to publish a guide for forces investigating rape complaints: “I hope it will be on a par with the homicide manual and be of real benefit t