Rape Awareness
What happens after I’ve made the initial report?
What happens after I’ve made the initial report?
You will be assigned an officer who will keep in touch with you throughout the investigation. If the person who raped you is someone you don’t know, you may be asked to attend an identity parade.
This isn’t as scary as it may sound. Modern identity parades mean that you aren’t even in the same building as a suspect. People taking part in an identity parade are filmed in advance and the images are downloaded on to a disc. You view the line up on pc or dvd player and give the officer the number of the person you believe is the suspect. Throughout this process, you will have the support of one of our specially-trained officers.
When we’ve completed our investigation and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has charged the suspect, you will be kept informed of what will happen at court.
What happens at court?
After the suspect has been charged, you will be contacted by a member of our Witness Care Team who will keep you informed about the progress of the case.
Your identity will be protected and you will not be named in court. If you have any special requirements or you don’t feel able to face the defendant, the prosecuting counsel can apply for special measures. This can include giving evidence from behind a curtain or by videolink. The officer can also help with getting to court.
You will also be given a DVD, called JIGSAW, which is designed to demystify the court process. By giving an overview of what is likely to happen if you’re asked to appear in court as a witness, it aims to instil confidence and help make the experience less daunting than it may have been.
Other organisations that can help
If you would like to speak to someone other than the police, there are a number of support organisations.
National organisations:
Rape Crisis www.rapecrisis.org.uk or Survivors Trust www.thesurvivorstrust.org
Local groups:
- Savana, in Stoke-on-Trent
- Emerge in Stafford
- Sexual and Domestic Abuse and Rape Advice Centre (SARAC)
in Burton-upon-Trent.
