Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a global crisis of staggering proportions, and here in the UK, we are grappling with our own ‘deepening’ VAWG epidemic.
VAWG-related offences now account for 20% of all police recorded crime. A crisis of this magnitude demands bold, decisive action.
To tackle this epidemic effectively, we must start by grounding our strategies in the lived realities of victims navigating the criminal justice system.
This means listening to victims, their concerns, and understanding why so many choose not to come forward in the first place.
As Victims’ Commissioner, I will continue to advocate for change because I see, every day, the pressing need to transform how victims perceive and experience our criminal justice system and the agencies that underpin it.
The experience of rape victims, in particular, shines a light on how much needs to change within our system.
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.
Throughout the year we will be bringing you stories that shine a light on the sheer scale of the epidemic.
With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to engage and empower our readers on the issue of violence against women.
You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at [email protected].
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Navigating an unfamiliar criminal justice system can be intimidating for any victim – understandably so – but rape victims often face a unique set of challenges.
This can include intrusive scrutiny of their behaviour and personal history, intimidating cross-examination marred by rape myths, misconceptions and victim-blaming – as well as record-long waits for justice due to the backlog of cases in our Crown Courts.
Rape victims are unique in facing some of the worst of these crushing delays. 424 days – that’s how long it takes, on average, for an adult rape case to progress from the decision to charge through to conclusion in court.
But let’s be honest, ‘average’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting and, crucially, this excludes the time taken for the preceding police investigation.
Learn more about rape in the UK
- According to Rape Crisis, 6.5million women in England and Wales have been raped or sexually assaulted, but 5 in 6 women don’t report rape
- The number of sexual offences in England and Wales reached a record high of 193,566 in in the year ending March 2022
- UCL research found that rape offences have the highest not guilty plea rate of any offence (85%) and this has been the case consistently for 15 years
- ONS data reveals almost half of all rapes are perpetrated by a woman’s partner or ex-partner, and End Violence Against Women have said that the victim knows the perpetrator in 85% of cases
- The ONS also found that more than 1 in 5 victims were unconscious or asleep when they were raped
These delays have devastating consequences for victims. In Rape Crisis’ Breaking Point report, some survivors shared that the prolonged process left them feeling suicidal.
With delays stretching into years, many will feel they simply can’t last the distance. So, it perhaps comes as no surprise that in the latest data a fifth of adult rape cases were stopped because a victim no longer supported the prosecution.
This comes at a profound cost, not only to the victim but also to society, which ultimately pays the price for a justice system that fails to deliver.
Others disclosed attempts to take their own lives. Such delays aren’t just administrative; they are life-altering, with profound and lasting impacts on those who seek justice.
With delays stretching into years, many will feel they simply can’t last the distance.
So, it perhaps comes as no surprise that this past year saw a 41% increase in the number of rape victims who withdrew at prosecution stage compared to the same period last year.
This comes at a profound cost, not only to the victim but also to society, which ultimately pays the price for a justice system that fails to deliver.
What to do if you’ve been raped
If you have been the victim of rape, either recently or historically, and are looking for help, support is out there.
- If you have recently been raped and you are still at risk, ring 999 and ask for the police. Otherwise, the first step is to go somewhere you are safe.
- If you want to report your rape to the police, ring 999 or the police non-emergency line on 101. An Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) will often be on hand to help you through reporting and even after you have made a statement, you can still decide to withdraw from the criminal justice process at any time.
- If you plan on going to the police, if possible, do not wash your clothes or shower, bathe or brush your teeth. If you do get changed, keep the clothes you were wearing in a plastic bag. These steps will help to preserve any DNA evidence your attacker may have left on your body or clothes.
- If you don’t want to contact the police, Rape Crisis suggest talking to someone you trust about what has happened; or you can ring one of the UK’s many rape and sexual assault helplines.
- Anyone aged 16+ can contact Rape Crisis’s 24/7 Support Line by calling 0808 500 2222 or starting an online chat.
- If you have been injured, you’re best advised to go to your nearest A&E to seek medical treatment. If you are uninjured, you can go to your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). The NHS has information on where to find your nearest centre here.
- If your rape is historic, you can still access support, including from the police – there is no time limit on reporting and your account can still be used as evidence.
Read more here.
For those who do make it to court, the journey also remains far from straightforward. A hard-hitting report by national charity Victim Support, drawing on a number of powerful first-hand victim-survivor accounts, raised serious questions about how sexual violence victims are treated in the courtroom.
Among other issues, this includes defence barristers deploying pervasive and damaging myths and misconceptions during cross-examination.
While recent efforts to improve policing and prosecution of rape have – and continues to be – vital, it must now surely be time to turn our focus to the victim experience within our courts.
Victims must leave court with a sense of justice, not additional trauma.
A range of ‘special measures’ exists to reduce the trauma victims experience within the justice system.
These include provisions such as pre-recorded cross-examinations, allowing victims to avoid the stress of appearing in court.
However, I frequently hear these measures are inconsistently applied and often prioritise the convenience of the system over the needs of the victim. It is difficult to escape the conclusion that we’re asking too much of these victims at an already enormously challenging time in their lives.
At the same time, we are making things harder for the unsung heroes who support them — those frontline support services that are essential in keeping victims engaged with the justice process.
Endemic delays in our system place an immense strain on victims, but they also add to the pressure on already overstretched frontline victim services. These services often act as the glue that holds victims together, providing crucial support to help them cope and stay engaged to pursue justice despite all the barriers in their way.
Learn more about Rape Crisis England & Wales
Rape Crisis England & Wales is a feminist charity working to end rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse – and all other forms of sexual violence.
Whether it happened recently, or a long time ago; whether you know without a doubt that you experienced sexual violence, or aren’t quite sure; whether it happened to you, or someone you know; Rape Crisis England & Wales will always believe you and listen to you, and they can offer you information and support.
You can find out more about Rape Crisis England & Wales here; and if you’re aged 16 or over, you can call the charity’s 24/7 support line for free on 0808 500 2222.
If we are to tackle these delays, and ensure victims get justice, these services are essential. Which is why the recent news of planned funding cuts is not only concerning but also short-sighted.
It takes immense courage and resolve to pursue justice as a rape victim. Yet, many tell me they are left feeling that the system is stacked against them. Looking at the many hurdles a rape victim has to face at each stage of their justice journey – in addition to agonising waits for a court date, or for specialist support – who could blame them?
It strikes me that we are asking victims to pay an unreasonably high price for justice. At the same time, we risk failing to provide them with the crucial support they need to secure that justice.
These are not the strong foundations we need if we are to effectively tackle violence against women and girls.
The human cost of justice need not, and must not, be this high.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Share your views in the comments below.
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