Rape victims urged to come forward

VICTIMS of rape and sexual assault in South Somerset are being urged to speak up.

Police have said that that they want to reassure people in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area that incidents of rape claims being found to be false are rare.

There has been a widely-held belief that false allegations of this crime are rife and undermines the work that police to do to encourage those who had been abused to come forward. There are fears that genuine victims are put off from making complaints in fear of being accused of making false allegations.

But new statistics from a study carried out by the Crown Prosecution Service tells a very different story. The study looked at 5,651 prosecutions for rape-related offences across the country between January 11 and May last year, but just 35 were for making false allegations of rape.

There were also 111,891 prosecutions for domestic violence, but just six for making false allegations.

Director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, said that there was a “misplaced belief” that false allegations of rape and domestic violence were rife. “This report presents a much more accurate picture,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Sarah Crew, who leads on rape and sexual assault in Avon and Somerset, said: "Rape and sexual assault is a serious crime that we are committed to investigating thoroughly in a bid to bring those responsible to justice.

“Across Avon and Somerset we have dedicated teams that consist of officers who specialise in this area. This ensures that all allegations are investigated thoroughly and to the highest level.

“There are rare instances when an allegation has been made, that further evidence is identified as part of the course of the investigation that exonerates the accused. In some cases this may halt the criminal investigation.

"We are meticulous in seeking the truth and will either prove or disprove the claim."

Supt Crew added: "Every allegation of rape and sexual assault is taken seriously and victims should feel confident in coming to us for help and support.

“We are dedicated to providing a tailored service to all, with support of services including the Bridge and Safe Link.

"At the same time, anyone investigated for rape and sexual assault will be listened to and treated fairly. They are innocent of the crime until proven guilty in a court of law."

For more information about rape and sexual, how to report it and where to get help visit www.rapeaware.org

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