Rape and Sexual Violence

 
Statistics
Over 500,000 women are sexually assaulted and 85,000 women are raped each year (Crime Survey, England and Wales, 2017).   The majority of rapes (about 90%) are committed by men known to the women.  Unfortunately only 15% of those experiencing sexual violence make a report to the police, which is perhaps not surprising given the low conviction rates - only 6% of reported cases result in conviction of the perpetrator.

Barriers to Reporting
Common barriers to reporting sexual assault and rape include: fear of not being believed; being shamed; being blamed by others; blaming ones self; knowing the perpetrator (e.g. family, friend, colleague). Please remember it is not your fault so do not blame yourself. Asian and / or Muslim victims are less likely to come forward and report rape due to the culture of shame and honour.  Cultural attitudes will also prevent many women from recognising themselves as victims of rape.  For example, forced sex within marriage is often not regarded as rape.  However, increasing number of Asian victims are calling rape crisis helplines, particularly those specialist services aimed at the BME / Asian community.

Seeking Help
If you have been raped or sexually assaulted or you know someone that has, it is very important that you seek the right help and support quickly even if you do not wish to report the incident to the police.  Many victims do not come forward because they feel that they will have to make a formal report.  Whether you want to make a police report or not, you should contact your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), hospital accident and emergency or your GP because you may need treatment for your injuries, emergency contraception or a health check.

If you contact the MWN Helpline, we can find the nearest SARC to you which can do the following:
  • Health screening for sexually transmitted infections
  • Pregnancy test
  • Forensic medical examination
  • Referred to specialist counselling
  • Provide an initial statement of what happened

The SARC will not pressure you into reporting to the police and can simply store the forensic examination results, which can be used as evidence, should you wish to make a formal report to the police at a later date.

Collecting Evidence
If you want a forensic medical examination then time is an important consideration to ensure evidence is not lost. If you can, then try go to the SARC straight away or at least within 72 hours of the rape or assault.  If possible also try to take these steps:

  • Do not wash
  • Do not brush your teeth
  • Do not eat or drink
  • Do not change your clothes
  • If you change your clothes, do not wash them and put them in a clean plastic bag
  • Try not to go to the toilet
  • Do not clear up anything from the area of the incident
  • Do not have a cigarette
 
 
 

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