Police Attitudes To Rape

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The myths of women and men being raped can have an impact in the way that the police respond to victims. (Page 2008, p Near back of journal titled victim credibility) found that the polices attitude to rape depended upon the victim. For example, a prostitute was 44% unlikely to be believed to be raped. However, the myth that a prostitute cannot be raped due to her or him having sexual intercourse for money every day does not give the excuse of allowing a person to have sexual intercourse with the prostitute when they have clearly said no. When an individual says no, it means no. Even, if the person consented at a different time and it should not matter what status a person is. Furthermore, the belief of rape myths held by police (Page 2008, …show more content…

The police are signifying that these crimes have little priority and women often make false allegations. However, over time the procedures on sexual offence allegations made by women have been tightened and police have been educated to consider that every woman making allegations of sexual assault or rape is to be believed. Data were taken from crime survey for England and Wales, the office of national statistics.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/june2017#statisticians-comment) p26

England and Wales Sexual offences April 2010-March 2011 April 2011-March 2012 April 2012-March 2013 April 2013-March 2014 April 2014-March 2015 July 2015-June 2016 July 2016-June 2017 June 2016-June 17 compared to previous year Number of selected offences involving a knife or sharp instrument Percentage change
Rape 258 237 190 261 321 341 438 28
Sexual assault 93 72 88 97 127 132 182 38
Total 351 309 278 358 448 473 620

‘Taken from the police recorded crimes in England and Wales including rate, number and percentage for the year ending June 2017’ https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/june2017#statisticians-comment …show more content…

It can literally happen to anyone. There also needs to be a victim, an offender and absence of a suitable guardian(routine activity theory). The study carried out by (Belknap, 1987) show that routine activity plays a part in connection with rape victims as ‘71.9% happened at night, more probable to happen in the summer when more people are active outside the home’ needs more, However, rape victims are mostly acquaintance rape and they know the offender and can happen in the home, so this theory only applies to some circumstances. Victims of these sort of crimes must make very difficult decisions which can impact themselves and family the rest of their

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