Consent
Rape or sexual assault is a serious crime. If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, it is important to remember that it is not your fault.
[Phone buzzes]
[Text messages read: "You just disappeared", "One minute you were with that guy", "Then you left xx", "Is everything okay", "We're worried about you"]
[Text message reads: "What's happened"]
[Female dials 101 on her mobile phone]
Being a victim of rape or a serious sexual assault is something no one should ever experience.
At Staffordshire Police we take every report of rape seriously and treat each case with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity.
We know circumstances of each report vary but one common factor in each investigation is that you are at the heart of it and you are our priority.
When somebody reports a rape or serious sexual offence to the police, a specialist trained police officer will speak to you to ascertain the immediate information.
This is firstly to ensure you are safe and secondly to help you understand the next steps of the investigation.
Detectives from a specialist investigation team known as the RASSO which stands for rape and serious sexual offences will lead on your investigation and will be in charge of your case they will be able to answer questions and assist you in any decisions that you may need to make.
They will walk you through the investigation process and ensure that we gather as much information as possible, while supporting you every step of the way. We often conduct your video interview at one of our specialist suites where you can tell us exactly what has happened which allows the officer to assess what evidence can be gathered.
We will explain and support you through the process but you are in control.
You do not have to do anything that you do not want to do.
It's important to remember that this is not your fault, you are not to blame, and you are not alone.
Staffordshire Police work together with a number of support services who can offer advice, counselling and aftercare.
They can support you through your entire investigation which again is your choice.
If you're not ready to report to us then you don't have to you can self-refer to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre also known as the SARC, where you can still receive a high quality professional response to your needs whether medical, evidence gathering, or otherwise.
This information and evidence can be retained for when the time is right for you.
We understand that after any rape or sexual assault it is both scary and confusing and you may find it difficult to speak to someone. We want to reassure you that you are not alone and we will support anyone who is a victim of rape or sexual assault here at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre.
You have an opportunity to speak to someone about what you have experienced and have any vital evidence collected. We have a team of trained crisis workers who will take the time to listen to what has happened to you, explain how we can help and what options are available.
While you're here you can get a medical examination by a specially trained clinician and they will check you're okay and will take samples from you to try and gather as much evidence as possible.
These samples will then be given to the police to support your investigation or if you attend without reporting we will keep them until you decide if you want to report which is always your choice.
We will also look after your sexual health and ongoing support needs and we will make referrals to services such as specialist counselling and sexual health if you want us to.
It can be difficult at this time for you to think clearly about your choices but we have a 24 hour self-referral line which you can use at any time if you're not sure of what to do or want to talk about your options.
No matter how long ago something happened to you, we are here for you.
We're aware of the current feelings and fears that some of you may have with regards to reporting a rape or serious sexual assault particularly due to recent media coverage regarding low conviction rates.
But I want to reassure you that if you've been a victim when you're ready and the time is right for you please trust Staffordshire Police and let us help you through this difficult time.
Sexual Assualt Referral Centre (SARC)
0800 970 0372 | [email protected] | www.grangepark.org.uk
Survive Sexual Assault and Abuse Services
0300 330 5959 | [email protected] | www.staffordshirewomensaid.org
Savana
01782 433204 | [email protected] | www.savana.org.uk
Staffordshire Police
Call 101 or dial 999 in an emergency | www.staffordshire.police.uk
What separates sex or a gesture of affection, from rape and sexual assault is consent. Consent is both people agreeing to what's happening by choice and having the freedom and ability to make that choice.
The terms rape and 'sexual assault' are used simply to differentiate between two types of offence.
Rape
The legal definition of rape is when a person intentionally penetrates another's vagina, anus or mouth with a penis, without the other person's consent. Assault by penetration is when a person penetrates another person's vagina or anus with any part of the body other than a penis, or by using an object, without the person's consent.
Sexual Assault
The overall definition of sexual or indecent assault is an act of physical, psychological and emotional violation in the form of a sexual act, inflicted on someone without their consent. It can involve forcing or manipulating someone to witness or participate in any sexual acts.
Not all cases of sexual assault involve violence, cause physical injury or leave visible marks. Sexual assault can cause severe distress, emotional harm and injuries which can't be seen – all of which can take a long time to recover from. This is why we use the term 'assault', and treat reports just as seriously as those of violent, physical attacks.
If you’ve been the victim of rape or sexual assault, there are many different ways you can report it to the police. We understand it can be difficult. You might not be completely sure what happened or how to talk about it. Our trained officers and partner organisations are here to listen and work together to support you in any way we can. Importantly, your information could help us bring the offender to justice and make sure you, and other people in a similar situation, are kept safe.
Is it an emergency?
Is someone in immediate danger? Is a crime taking place or has one just happened? If so, call 999 now and ask for the police. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service.
Call 101
If you’d like to talk to someone, our national non-emergency telephone number is staffed 24/7. Call us on 101 and report what happened or just get some advice.
Report online
If you’d like to report online, rather than speaking to an officer by telephone in the first instance, you can securely and confidentially report rape or sexual assault to us online.
All reports made using this service are reviewed by our 24/7 contact centre within a few hours and an officer will get back to you in a maximum of two days (although usually quicker).
Visit a police station
If you’d like to speak to an officer in person, we can provide a safe and comfortable environment at any of our police stations.
Report a crime on someone else’s behalf
If someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, and doesn’t feel able to speak to the police yet, please report it yourself using any of the methods above. We’ll record the incident and help you to support the victim if needed.
Provide information anonymously
Information provided anonymously via Crimestoppers is extremely valuable in helping us plan how we police each area.
You can contact them through their website or by calling 0800 555 111.
Other useful links
We understand that you may not be ready to talk to us about what has happened. The charities, groups and organisations on the support organisations page can offer support, advice and ways to report the incident without having to talk directly to the police.
The circumstances behind a rape or sexual assault are unique, so the way we investigate each one can vary. However, every investigation will start with the same steps to make sure we gather as much evidence as we can, as quickly as we can, while giving you all the support and advice you need. Find out below what happens after you report rape or sexual assault and the support available to you during the process.
Your initial account
After you report rape or sexual assault, we’ll arrange for someone to talk to you. Their first priority will be to check on your welfare and find out if you need any emergency medical assistance.
If you’re comfortable talking about what happened, the officer will have four main questions:
- Who did this?
- What happened?
- Where did it happen?
- When did it happen?
We understand you may not be able to answer all of these. However, the more you can tell us, the better our chances of identifying the perpertrator.
The perpetrator
If we can identify and locate the perpetrator/suspect, we may arrest them. Our decision to make the arrest will be based on both your wishes and what we feel is in the wider public interest. If we believe there is a continued threat, either to you or the public, we will act. We cannot risk anyone else getting hurt.
Your dedicated officer
You will have a specially trained officer from our Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team dedicated to your case and will be a single point of contact throughout the investigation.
They will explain to you what is happening at each step, answer any questions you might have and, with your consent, refer you through to specialist support advocacy services, such as Independent Sexual Violence Advisors.
One of the officer’s first tasks will be to take a detailed account from you. This can be in the form of a written statement or a visually recorded interview. They’ll talk through both of these options with you beforehand.
As a general rule, your officer will keep you informed of how the investigation is going at least every 28 days or sooner if there are any updates.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
If a perpetrator is arrested, they will be interviewed and evidence collected. The OIC will pass all of the evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and will detail the circumstances surrounding the offence.
A specially trained lawyer at the CPS will review all of the evidence and, together with a second 'reviewing lawyer', decide whether there is enough evidence to proceed to a trial. The CPS will then notify the OIC of the decision.
Going to court
If the CPS recommend a trial, the first stage will be ‘heard’ at a Magistrates’ Court. The perpetrator, who will be referred to in court as ‘the defendant’, will have to attend court. You won’t need to attend at this stage. The police and CPS can apply to the court for ‘special measures’ that can assist you when you subsequently give your evidence in court. Special measures can include giving evidence behind a screen or via a video link from another room.
Giving evidence
If the defendant pleads ‘not guilty’ to the crime, you will need to go to the Crown Court and appear as a witness. In this case, you will be referred to as a ‘witness for the prosecution’.
Preparing for the day
It’s natural to feel a little nervous about going to court, but we will be on hand to support you all the way through the trial. We can arrange a court visit before the day so that you can familiarise yourself with the layout of the courtroom.
If you’ve been the victim, please report rape or sexual assault as soon as possible. Even if you’re not 100 per cent sure, we’d sooner hear from you so that we can make sure you’re safe. If you’re not ready to talk to the police just yet, that’s OK. Below you can find a range of places to get support, advice and medical help.
You can speak to these organisations in confidence and what you tell them won't be shared with the police unless you ask for it to be.
Independent sexual violence advisors (ISVAs)
Independent sexual violence advisors (ISVAs) work with adults and children who have experienced sexual violence and their families to get them access to the services they need.
You can talk to an ISVA without talking to the police.
Survive Sexual Assault and Abuse Services (Staffordshire area)
Survive is a new sexual assault and abuse service for Staffordshire (not including Stoke-on-Trent), providing a free, non-judgmental and confidential service for adults, children over the age of 4, and close family members/significant others who have been affected by sexual assault or abuse at any point during their lives.
Visit: www.staffordshirewomensaid.org
Call: 0300 330 5959
Email: [email protected]
Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
The Grange Park SARC is a centre providing services to men, women and children living in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, who have been raped or sexually assaulted. At Grange Park you can access a range of services that are free and confidential.
Visit: www.grangepark.org.uk
Call: 0330 223 0099
Email: [email protected]
Victim Support
A national charity dedicated to helping anyone affected by crime – not just victims and witnesses, but friends, family and anyone else caught up in the aftermath.
Rape Crisis
A national charity offering confidential help, advice and a range of Rape Crisis Centres around the UK.
Galop
A national charity providing advice and support to members of the LGBT community.
Survivors UK
A national charity supporting men who have been raped or sexually assaulted.
Crimestoppers
A national charity with a free helpline for reporting crime anonymously.
Refuge
Refuge supports women, children and men with a range of services, including refuges, independent advocacy, community outreach and culturally specific services.
Women's Aid
Women’s Aid is a national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Men's Advice Line
Confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic violence from a partner or ex-partner (or from other family members).
Call: 0808 801 0327