Engendering Justice - from Policy to Practice - The Fawcett Society

Victims reported telling their story to the police at leastthree times with some having to do so five or six times.This re-telling can have a traumatic effect and can alsoimpact on the confidence of the victim. Reforms which wereintroduced in November 2007 to allow video recordings ofstatements by rape victims to be used as their evidence-inchiefin court are welcomed by the Commission. However,it is important to ensure that victims understand what thevideo evidence will be used for and that the giving of videoevidence does not create additional trauma for the victim.One woman described how “It took me five hours to domy video interview. They interviewed the perpetrator for 36minutes.” 127 Further, the video evidence needs to be put incontext in the courtroom for the jury.I felt the police were extremely helpful and made me feelvery supported. I did have to repeat what happened tome around six times though, to various people. Also I wastold I had to give video evidence the last time which wasdamaging to the case I think. The defence barrister pointedout that I wasn’t crying and nobody explained to the jurythat I was in shock and had told them what happenedseveral times by then.Female rape victim, Questionnaire Response,January 2009It is crucial that contact is maintained with the victimthroughout the investigation and stages of the criminaljustice process. While some individuals reported a goodlevel of contact with the police others felt uninformed.Women are more likely to withdraw their complaint if theydo not feel it is being treated as a priority. “The first two orthree days the police maintained contact, then nothing/infrequent for two months until we told them that westrongly felt uninformed.” 128It is essential that this contact and information-sharingwith the victim involves providing sufficient notice if adefendant is being released on bail. Victim Support told theCommission that currently, under the Code of Practice forVictims of Crime, the police are required to inform victimswhere a defendant has been released on bail within fiveworking days or one working day if the victim is identifiedas vulnerable or intimidated. This lack of warning can resultin additional distress and increased risk, particularly in adomestic violence situation. As one female victim describedto the Commission:The police didn’t maintain contact with me. After mypartner was arrested I had no idea what was happening.I was left home alone. I finally got his solicitor to tell mehe had been bailed. In this respect I don’t think that thepolice took it seriously. 129The Commission recommends that the Code of Practice forVictims of Crime is amended to require the police to informvulnerable or intimidated victims if a defendant has beenreleased on bail or had his bail conditions altered before thedefendant leaves the premises of the court.As time went on I was less likely to report it [domesticviolence] as I knew the police would remove my partner (asI own the house) and lean on me to press charges. WhenI agreed to this course of action my partner was bailedand told not to come to the village I lived in. He ignoredthis and the next day broke into my house with a crow barwhilst I was inside the house. I phoned the police and hewas arrested again. I lived in absolute fear each day…I wasso scared of what he might be capable of, based on pastevents, that I dropped the charges…I felt very alone. It waseasier to have him back and have some control of my lifeagain.Female domestic violence victim, Questionnaire Response,January 2009The Commission heard evidence from ACPO and wereencouraged that progress has been made in some areaswith specialist investigation and co-ordination measuresbeing put in place. All forces now have a Rape Championand Domestic Violence Champion and forces areencouraged to ensure this position is held by an officer witha rank of Chief Officer or Senior Detective. These individualsare an important means of sharing best practice betweenforces and are linked up electronically. A specialist team ofexpert advisors on rape has been set up and has visitedevery police force in the country to assist in producing alocal action plan. Sexual offences training for police officershas also been introduced and specialist rape investigationofficers are now in every area together with sexual offenceofficers to provide support during the investigation.Page 51