73% of rape survivors say police treatment worsened their mental health

The second survey of rape survivors’ experiences of policing has been published today, 12^th November 2024, finding that police responses are improving for those who have reported rape and sexual assault more recently, but concerningly, harmful police practices are still deterring survivors from reporting to the police again in the future.

The online survey of survivors was conducted by academics as part of Operation Soteria – a government initiative aiming to change how the police investigation rape by focusing on the suspect’s actions rather than whether or not the victim is ‘credible’.

Alongside other expert women’s organisations, the End Violence Against Women Coalition has long raised the alarm about the appalling treatment of rape survivors who report to the police, as well as shockingly low charging rates for suspects.

This latest survey reinforces what survivors and their advocates have long known; that there are multiple reasons that survivors of rape may report to the police, and complexity in what justice means to them. We are cautious that signs of marginal progress, while welcome, does not eclipse the myriad ways the justice system continues to cause harm.

The Rape Review started under the previous government began the process of change, but it is clear that we still have a long way to go to transform our broken justice system. It is crucial that the new government continues this vital work.

KEY FINDINGS

Experiences of reporting to the police

While some survivors encountered supportive officers, the majority had experiences that deepened their trauma and mistrust for the justice system and deterred them from reporting to the police again in the future.

58% of respondents said their experience with police was worse than they expected, and 73% reported worsened mental health due to police actions or inactions.

“I live the nightmare not only of the actual assaults, but I’d go so far as to say the police investigation and especially the court case and result, have ruined and takes its toll on my life. I battle suicidal thoughts regularly, aggravated by the unjustness of the whole situation. I’m the one with the life sentence”
– Survivor respondent to the survey

Survivors experienced feelings of being disbelieved, blamed, and minimised; further amplifying their trauma. Many also disclosed suffering from PTSD as a result of their police interaction.

“Nothing could have prepared me for the trauma I have experienced as a result of making a police report. I am more traumatised by the experience of being investigated for my own rape, than I am by the rape itself.”
– Survivor responding to the survey

47% of respondents who withdrew their support for police investigations said they would have continued with the investigation if officers had been more kind and understanding.

Despite nearly 80% initially reporting their assault to the police, only four in ten indicated they would do so again. This signifies a significant loss of trust and perceived access to justice stemming from negative experiences, and means large numbers of survivors feel they have lost access to police safeguarding and criminal justice in the future.

Prevention is a priority for survivors

The survey results show that survivors overwhelmingly prioritise the prevention of future harm, with 88% deeming it “extremely important” to stop perpetrators from reoffending – highlighting the critical need for effective perpetrator intervention strategies. While the reasons survivors report sexual violence to the police are complex and varied, for many, prevention and validation matter more than a criminal conviction.

We call on the government to continue to deliver public prevention campaigns and properly resource quality relationships and sex education in schools to prevent sexual violence before harm occurs.

Referrals to support services

Support to heal and move on is a critical part of justice to many survivors, with only 10% reporting that they didn’t want to access support services. But just half (52%) of survivors said the police referred them to a support service. 45% of respondents wanted support services but did not have access to them, while 2% were on a waiting list for support. 39% of respondents who withdrew their support for police investigations said that having access to a support worker may have enabled them to continue with the investigation.

Chronic underfunding has left many specialist services on the brink of collapse, unable to meet demand, with many facing a cliff-edge of support in early 2025. We continue to call on the government to sustainably fund the specialist violence against women and girls services that provide life-saving support every day, so that everyone who needs help can access it.

Inequalities in experiences of policing

Black and minoritised survivors experienced significantly worse treatment by the police compared to white survivors, including victim-blaming and lack of attention to evidence – reflecting what we have long known about institutionalised racism in the culture of policing.

However, there is a gap in the data as 88% of respondents were White British and no other single ethnic group made up more than 1% of survey respondents, so it is not a representative sample.

Reflecting a societal culture of victim-blaming, survivors of sexual violence perpetrated by intimate partners consistently reported poorer experiences of policing than survivors of familial abuse or assaults perpetrated by strangers. This follows reports that the police are routinely trivialising sexual assaults reported by teenagers, particularly if the abuse is connected to their online activity such as use of dating apps. It is highly concerning to see that rape myths, stereotypes and discrimination remain deeply rooted in policing.

Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said:

“We welcome the insights provided by this survey of rape victims experiences. At a very basic level we expect the police response to consistently demonstrate the care, dignity and respect victims deserve. The last few years have seen a national focus on transforming the way rape is handled by the police and while it’s encouraging to see the impact that is starting to have, it is far from the norm, with victims from minority groups and those who experienced intimate partner sexual violence reporting some of the poorest treatment. 

We know that most survivors don’t report to the police for reasons ranging from fears of being disbelieved, blamed, or seeing no action taken. Those who do report are motivated by ensuring the perpetrator does not hurt them again – or anyone else. But with charging rates in adult rape cases at around 3%, this is not an outcome that they can rely on. Worse, as this survey shows, they face further harm from engaging with the police and justice system at all.

With only four in ten saying they would report to the police again in future, it is clear there is a significant loss of trust and access to justice stemming from negative experiences with policing, which should be a national scandal.

After several years of profound failings, we must build on the improvements we see in some areas of the policing response to rape victims, but we know that a lot more work needs to happen to embed positive cultural changes and to consistently challenge discriminatory, victim-blaming attitudes amongst officers. Behind these numbers are survivors whose lives have not only been deeply harmed by the abuse they have experienced, but also the failing systems they have turned to for support, which will need considerable ambition, investment, and long-term political will to turn around.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

The survey was responded to by 2,858 survivors of rape and sexual assault who reported their cases to police in England and Wales between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. An additional 345 survivors whose cases were not known to the police at the time they completed the survey provided their reasons for not reporting. 90% of respondents were female and 88% were White British. The most common age range for respondents was between 25 and 34 years old (27%).

It is important to note that this survey is not a representative survey of all sexual violence survivors’ experiences with police in England and Wales, as respondents self-selected into the survey rather than being randomly sampled. However, these statistics still provide insights into the experiences of a large number of survivors and can help inform efforts to improve the police response to rape and sexual assault.

Media contact

Sinead Geoghegan, Head of Communications, media@evaw.org.uk 07960 744 502