The problems of investigating rape as part of domestic abuse

Kristina Massey; Jim Foley

The problems of investigating rape as part of domestic abuse

Research output: Contribution to conference › Lecture/Speech

Abstract

Rape as part of domestic abuse presents the police with multiple layers of complexity as it includes 2 unique/difficult offences occurring simultaneously. Both of these offences go unreported (78,000 estimated rapes, 2800 prosecutions) and when they are reported they suffer from high levels of attrition. The law of Coercion and Control was only evoked 62 times in its first six months between the end of December 2015 and end of June 2016. Out of 22 police forces in England and Wales, eight have not charged a single person with the offence (Bishop, 2016). These difficulties result from the numerous added complications of investigating these crimes.

Some of the usual evidence gathered in a criminal investigation are of little use when rape is part of domestic abuse. For example DNA and fingerprints are of little use and there are typically no witnesses. The relationship between victim and perpetrator and the risk of retribution add extra complexities. Victim’s perspectives will be considered and recommendations for improvements will be made.

Original language	English
Publication status	Completed - 30 Nov 2018
Event	Thinking Outside Of The Box: Learning From Each Other To Improve Responses To Domestic Abuse - Duration: 3 Jan 0001 → …

Conference

Conference	Thinking Outside Of The Box: Learning From Each Other To Improve Responses To Domestic Abuse
Period	3/01/01 → …

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Rape
Domestic abuse
Domestic violence
Violence against women
Sexual,violence

Cite this

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title = "The problems of investigating rape as part of domestic abuse",

abstract = "Rape as part of domestic abuse presents the police with multiple layers of complexity as it includes 2 unique/difficult offences occurring simultaneously. Both of these offences go unreported (78,000 estimated rapes, 2800 prosecutions) and when they are reported they suffer from high levels of attrition. The law of Coercion and Control was only evoked 62 times in its first six months between the end of December 2015 and end of June 2016. Out of 22 police forces in England and Wales, eight have not charged a single person with the offence (Bishop, 2016). These difficulties result from the numerous added complications of investigating these crimes. Some of the usual evidence gathered in a criminal investigation are of little use when rape is part of domestic abuse. For example DNA and fingerprints are of little use and there are typically no witnesses. The relationship between victim and perpetrator and the risk of retribution add extra complexities. Victim{\textquoteright}s perspectives will be considered and recommendations for improvements will be made.",

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author = "Kristina Massey and Jim Foley",

year = "2018",

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day = "30",

language = "English",

note = "Thinking Outside Of The Box: Learning From Each Other To Improve Responses To Domestic Abuse ; Conference date: 03-01-0001",

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TY - CONF

T1 - The problems of investigating rape as part of domestic abuse

AU - Massey, Kristina

AU - Foley, Jim

PY - 2018/11/30

Y1 - 2018/11/30

N2 - Rape as part of domestic abuse presents the police with multiple layers of complexity as it includes 2 unique/difficult offences occurring simultaneously. Both of these offences go unreported (78,000 estimated rapes, 2800 prosecutions) and when they are reported they suffer from high levels of attrition. The law of Coercion and Control was only evoked 62 times in its first six months between the end of December 2015 and end of June 2016. Out of 22 police forces in England and Wales, eight have not charged a single person with the offence (Bishop, 2016). These difficulties result from the numerous added complications of investigating these crimes. Some of the usual evidence gathered in a criminal investigation are of little use when rape is part of domestic abuse. For example DNA and fingerprints are of little use and there are typically no witnesses. The relationship between victim and perpetrator and the risk of retribution add extra complexities. Victim’s perspectives will be considered and recommendations for improvements will be made.

AB - Rape as part of domestic abuse presents the police with multiple layers of complexity as it includes 2 unique/difficult offences occurring simultaneously. Both of these offences go unreported (78,000 estimated rapes, 2800 prosecutions) and when they are reported they suffer from high levels of attrition. The law of Coercion and Control was only evoked 62 times in its first six months between the end of December 2015 and end of June 2016. Out of 22 police forces in England and Wales, eight have not charged a single person with the offence (Bishop, 2016). These difficulties result from the numerous added complications of investigating these crimes. Some of the usual evidence gathered in a criminal investigation are of little use when rape is part of domestic abuse. For example DNA and fingerprints are of little use and there are typically no witnesses. The relationship between victim and perpetrator and the risk of retribution add extra complexities. Victim’s perspectives will be considered and recommendations for improvements will be made.

KW - Rape

KW - Domestic abuse

KW - Domestic violence

KW - Violence against women

KW - Sexual,violence

M3 - Lecture/Speech

T2 - Thinking Outside Of The Box: Learning From Each Other To Improve Responses To Domestic Abuse

Y2 - 3 January 0001

ER -

The problems of investigating rape as part of domestic abuse

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

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Cite this