reporting rape

If you have been raped the most important thing to remember is that it was not your fault.

It is irrelevant what you were wearing, how much you had to drink or whether you were in your own home or out for the evening - you did not ask to be raped. The blame is entirely the perpetrators. If you have not given your consent to have sexual relations or were unable to give your consent (asleep, passed out, drunk) then this is also rape. Even though rape involves forced sex, rape is not about sex or passion. Rape has nothing to do with love. Rape is an act of aggression and violence.

The next step is to get help:

• Go to a safe place such as the home of a trusted friend or family member.
• If you want to report the assault to the police it is up to you. But the sooner you report rape the more forensic evidence can be collected by the police or a SARC.
• Check with your local police station to see if they have a specialist worker. Ask to speak to a specially trained Sexual Offences Liaison Officer (SOLO or SOIT).
• If you are not sure what you want to do, go along, with a friend, to your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre where you can have a forensic and medical examination. They can store the forensic results until you make up your mind whether to report to the police or not.

If you do not wish to take legal action, it may be important that you receive medical attention. You do not have to have a forensic examination if you go a SARC, A & E or your GP. You may need to receive treatment for your injuries, emergency contraception, and checks for STIs.

Rape Crisis Centres specialise in rape trauma support and counselling. You can contact any of the help lines and / or arrange to see a specialist sexual violence counsellor. If there is not a rape crisis centre in your area, you will be given details of appropriate specialist counsellors

Immediately after being raped there are decisions that you will have to make, the consequences of which will last for a long time afterwards. The first is whether or not to report to the police. Rape Crisis, friends and family can help you by obtaining information for you about the procedures of the police and criminal justice system, and Rape Crisis will support you through that process if you do choose to report your assault. You are the only one who can make the decision and no one else should make that decision for you. 

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