Study of `date rape drug` cases

The results of research study into the dynamics of alleged drug facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases have been published. Operation Matisse was a twelve-month study into the nature of DFSA in England, conducted jointly by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Forensic Science Service (FSS) and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).

The report concludes that there is no evidence to suggest widespread use of the so-called `date rape drug` Rohypnol, and only limited traces of gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) were identified. The report does not doubt that the use of such drugs does occur, but stresses that there are many other drugs that may facilitate sexual assault by causing incapacity, especially when combined with alcohol, which was the commonest drug detected in the study.

The report recognises that the identification of the use of date rape drugs is often compromised by delayed incident reporting and, in the case of GHB, the rapid metabolism of the drug. It suggests that further research, which incorporates a more focussed examination of hair samples, might be advantageous in an effort to establish the extent of its usage in this type of crime.

The report suggests that by introducing a more consistent and standardised methodology to the investigation of these offences, the detection of such offences would be improved. It also suggests that by introducing improved data recording processes to identify, through modus operandi, the frequency of these allegations together with the attendant social data, police forces would be able to identify ‘hot spots’ and crime patterns to assist with both detection and prevention initiatives.

In pursuit of the improved identification of such cases and to improve investigation of such cases, the report puts forward a number of recommendations for consideration, these being that:

• ACPO introduces Operation Matisse methodology in all suspected/alleged cases of DFSA.
• Home Office considers changes to recording practices to include DFSA cases as a separate data set.
• Forensic service providers promote the use of the DFSA questionnaire as standard practice in all DFSA cases.
• Members of the public consider the effects of the combination of prescribed medication, voluntary use of recreational drugs and consumption of alcohol in determining their vulnerability of being a victim of crime.
• Where appropriate, Home Office/ACPO implement a media campaign to raise awareness of change to issue of ‘consent’ in rape cases emanating from the Sexual Offences Act (2003).

The report can be found in full at http://www.acpo.police.uk/policies.asp