Research reveals attitudes that could be contributing to the 1.6% charge rate in rape cases
Government-funded researchers have uncovered “striking” evidence that rape myths – such as the belief that a woman’s behaviour plays a part in her rape – are believed by police officers investigating allegations of the crime.
A study of specialist rape and sexual offences officers in one large police force gives a rare snapshot into attitudes which researchers warn could be contributing to the 1.6% charge rate in rape cases in England and Wales.
One senior officer, who expressed concern at the existence of rape myths in their force, told academics: “We massively pre-judge the credibility of the victim. We investigate the victim more than the offence itself.”
It was revealed this week that the Metropolitan police officer David Carrick waged a campaign of terror against women for two decades. Afterwards the Met commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, promised changes would be made “at speed”. Launching a “turnaround plan” to improve standards in the force on Friday, Rowley said he was “determined to win back Londoners’ trust” after Carrick’s “appalling criminality”.
On Friday the women’s charity Refuge put 1,071 plastic “bad apples” outside the Metropolitan police’s headquarters at New Scotland Yard, to mark the 1,071 officers and staff members in the Met being investigated over allegations of violence against women and girls.
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