• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

‘Disturbing’ police proposals a ‘step back to the 1980s’ for abuse survivors

The Canary by The Canary
13 March 2020
in News, UK
Reading Time: 4 mins read
165 7
A A
1
Home UK News
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Campaigners have hit out at proposals that may change the way police approach victims in investigations, describing the recommendations as a “step right back to the 1980s”.

A report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) into the Metropolitan Police’s handling of Operation Midland said the “conflict between the wishes of survivors and the need for impartial investigations should be reconciled”.

Recommendations include changing guidance for police officers on the “concept of belief” of a survivor, to make clear that once a crime has been recorded, “any investigation should be conducted impartially to establish the truth”.

Inspectors said there is a “fine balance” between the need to take victims seriously and the need for “thorough, impartial investigations”, but it is “critically important to guard against regression” given the police’s track record on crime recording.

Sarah Green, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, told the PA news agency: “It’s beyond belief that the police inspectorate would choose this point in time, when prosecution numbers of rape are the lowest on record, to recommend drastic changes on police codes and practice in believing rape victims when they report.

“Telling police that they should take steps to act in an unusual way around rape and specifically not indicate that they believe the victim is a step right back to the 1980s.

“It implies there is an unusual likelihood in rape of false allegations, when in fact they are very rare.”

Rape cases ‘being dropped prematurely’
(Posed by models) A rape victim is interviewed by a police officer in a specialist rape clinic (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Harriet Wistrich, director of the Centre for Women’s Justice, said the report’s recommendations “are most disturbing at a time when we are facing a crisis in the criminal justice system in respect of the investigation and prosecution of rape”.

She told PA: “Essentially, because one man made a series of allegations against high-profile individuals which were believed by police officers, all rape victims are to face further hurdles in the process to hold rapists to account.

“False allegations are very few and far between, but criminal justice failures in the investigation and prosecution of rape are far too commonplace.

“The messaging in this report is the last thing we need when rape is virtually decriminalised.”

The “presumption of belief” in rape cases was introduced in order to encourage more victims to come forward to report, she said, warning: “Even now, only an estimated 15% of rapes are reported, of which only one in 65 of those allegations reported result in a charging decision.

“Women are already declining to proceed with rape complaints when they feel they are treated as suspects and required to hand over the contents of their mobile phones and other personal data.

“The progress made in encouraging women to come forward will almost certainly go into reverse if women are not treated like all other people reporting crimes as acting in good faith.

John Worboys prison release
Harriet Wistrich, solicitor for two of black cab rapist John Worboys’ victims and Rachel Krys, co-director of End Violence Against Women, speak at a press conference in central London in relation to judges granting an appeal against the release of John Worboys (Rick Findler/PA)

“There was an outcry when it was discovered that John Worboys was able to drug and rape over 100 women and remain undetected.

“This was mostly because the police failed to believe the accounts of the 10 women who came forward to report him and therefore did not adequately investigate the allegations.”

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Johnson’s disaster capitalism approach to coronavirus will test his government to the limit

Next Post

Even Jeremy Hunt is ‘concerned’ by the UK’s coronavirus strategy

Next Post

Even Jeremy Hunt is 'concerned' by the UK's coronavirus strategy

Greta Thunberg takes weekly climate strike action online

A black and white graveyard and the DWP logo

A DWP deaths scandal was buried under the budget

Boris Johnson

A biologist points out an alarming omission in Boris Johnson's coronavirus strategy

Public warned over fake coronavirus advice circulating online

Public warned over fake coronavirus advice circulating online

Please login to join discussion
Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub
Lifestyle

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub

by Nathan Spears
12 May 2025
Steel companies ArcelorMittal and Ternium continue to run roughshod over Global South communities
News

Steel companies ArcelorMittal and Ternium continue to ride roughshod over Global South communities

by The Canary
12 May 2025
Jenu Kuruba families begin their long-awaited re-occupation of their ancestral homes inside the Nagarhole National Park. They carried photos of loved ones who had died after the village was evicted, so they too can return to the forest.
Analysis

An Indigenous community in India just faced down 130 police to return to their ancestral lands

by The Canary
12 May 2025
Nigel Farage waving Reform
Analysis

Reform’s new ‘manifesto’ is just catnip for the fat cats

by The Canary
12 May 2025
UN experts say Israel has 'criminal responsibility' for 'genocidal conduct'
Analysis

UN experts have now accused Israel of ‘genocidal conduct’ in Gaza

by Maryam Jameela
12 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub

Steel companies ArcelorMittal and Ternium continue to run roughshod over Global South communities
News
The Canary

Steel companies ArcelorMittal and Ternium continue to ride roughshod over Global South communities

Jenu Kuruba families begin their long-awaited re-occupation of their ancestral homes inside the Nagarhole National Park. They carried photos of loved ones who had died after the village was evicted, so they too can return to the forest.
Analysis
The Canary

An Indigenous community in India just faced down 130 police to return to their ancestral lands

Nigel Farage waving Reform
Analysis
The Canary

Reform’s new ‘manifesto’ is just catnip for the fat cats

ADVERTISEMENT
Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Why More People Are Seeking Legal Advice When Separating

Travel
Nathan Spears

Hungary Vignette Adventures: Discovering Hidden Gems by Car