A recent report published on thisiscornwall.co.uk highlighted the shocking fact that in 2009 alone over 300 rapes and sexual assaults were reported to Cornwall and Devon police. Even more distressing is the statement by Maggie Parks, director at the women's rape and sexual abuse centre in Bodmin, who claimed 85% of those raped or sexually assaulted never report the crime. A figure I have no trouble believing. This would bring the actual figure to somewhere near a breathtaking 2,000.
A police representative admitted ‘We accept rape and sexual assault are very under-reported crimes’ and went on to say they are setting up two more centres (to add to one existing in Plymouth) where victims ‘can come and be seen by a doctor, deal with police and be put in touch with counselling services’. All very well. But what of those that do get reported, but never conclude in conviction? A proportion, we have to sadly admit, must be false accusation, but many more are due to lack of evidence.
A recent rape case in Bolton highlights the inexplicable way some courts deal with such cases. The case was thrown out because the alleged female victim had disclosed sexual fantasies of group sex during a private msn webchat, which were later produced at court. When she finally agreed to meet the man, admitting they had planned to have sex, she was in fact met by 5 men, some of whom then allegedly raped her, which they denied.
I’m not sure how the courts can defend their decision based on the private fantasies of the woman. A fantasy is just that – fantasy. Adults, men and women are free to have as many weird and wonderful sexual fantasies and desires as they like without it denying them their right to say no at any point during any sexual activity.
This ideal harps back to the archaic opinion that women who dress too provocatively, or ‘lead men on’ should accept consequences as severe as rape, and be made to feel ashamed that they brought it on themselves. If we really want to address the problems surrounding sexual abuse and rape of men, women and children, it is not only the police that need to address themselves and their procedures. If more of that 15% brought to the police’s attention actually resulted in conviction, victims would be far more prepared to come forward.
2 comments:
Hi - there has been some misleading statements made about this case and not helped by Peter Tatchell's rant in the Guardian either. The CPS and Judges decision to halt the trial was not because of any 'moralising' Victorian or otherwise. It was because too much of the case depended on her word only - the other five men who admitted to sex with her denied it was without her consent and yet on her word alone all 5 of these men were jailed for over seven months! This fact seems to get forgotten but then again this is a fact that doesn't support the claim that the judgement to end the trial was as a result of misogyny! The simple fact is that the account (witness statements) that she gave the police was apparently seriously at odds with the content of her personal msn chatlogs. It was these conflicts that made the credibility of her evidence untenable.
Better be a nettle in the side of your friend than his echo. [Ralph Waldo Emerson]
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