A gap or a chasm? - National Police Library Online Catalogue

A gap or a chasm? Attrition in reported rape cases
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The age profile of service users has altered slightly, with the proportion of those aged under
20 increasing from 25 per cent in 1988 to a high of 43 per cent of all service users in
2002 (see Figure 3.3). The number of over-45s has remained fairly constant at five per cent.
The increase in referrals of under-16s, was the basis of another of the CRP rape projects
(see Skinner and Taylor, 2005). A potential age profile has not been explored as a possible
element in declining rates of conviction.
Figure 3.3: Age profile of service users 1987-2002
Source: St Mary’s historic database
Relationship to offender
Analysis of the relationship between victim and offender for the full data-set (1987-2002)
reveals that the largest category of assailants are acquaintances (33%), followed by
strangers (28%), current and ex-partners (19%), known less than 24 hours (11%) and family
members (10%). Figure 3.4 displays the annual breakdown by relationship type. These
figures are closer to the profile found in the BCS data (see earlier section), with the overall
proportion of assaults by known men at 57 per cent. Nevertheless, it is clear from both the
BCS and this study that stranger assaults are still more likely to be re p o rted to the
p o l i c e / s u p p o rt services, and that assaults by intimates (current and ex-partners) re m a i n
under-reported.