News
Rape, domestic violence and rape not taken seriously enough by police, according to survey
(26 July 2012)
Embargoed until 00.01 BST on Thursday 26th July 2012
With media call on Thursday 26th July at 12.30pm
Women do not think the police take rape, domestic violence and stalking as seriously as they should do, according to research by Durham University.
The study found that only half the women would definitely report domestic violence if it happened to them.
The findings come ahead of elections in November for the new Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) who will be responsible for deciding local policing priorities.
The study¹, funded by the Northern Rock Foundation, asked a general sample of 577 women in the North East and Cumbria about their perceptions of the police in relation to these crimes, whether they would report them or not and their reasons.
Women in all four police areas of the region - Northumbria, Cleveland, Durham and Cumbria - said rape, domestic violence and stalking were extremely serious but many women were reluctant to report these crimes to the police if they happened to them.
Only 49 per cent said they would definitely report domestic violence if it happened to them and although 89 per cent of women would report rape by a stranger, the percentage of women who would report rape by someone known was lower at 68 per cent. Just over half of women in the study (53 per cent) would definitely report stalking to the police.
Dr Nicole Westmarland, senior lecturer in Criminology at Durham University and the principal investigator for the research, said: “We know that the police have put additional resources and effort into improving both victim care and investigations. However, this research shows women are still reluctant to make that first step and report these crimes to the police.”
The women who would not report these crimes gave a range of reasons, including a lack of trust in the police, fear of re-victimisation by the criminal justice system, and the emotional strain of going through a prosecution.
In the case of domestic violence, one woman, who would not report it, said ‘I do not trust the police to follow it up or protect me’ whilst another, who would report it, said ‘Because this is a very serious crime and the person could attack again and the attacks could get worse’.
Most women said that these crimes should be given a very high priority, even when considering all the other demands on the police.
Cullagh Warnock, Programme Manager at the Northern Rock Foundation, explained: “We know that there continues to be low levels of reporting of these crimes, despite much good work by our local police forces. As the elections for Police and Crime Commissioners approach it is important that the voices of women living in the North East and Cumbria are heard. This timely research clearly demonstrates that women think the police should prioritise domestic violence, rape and stalking.”
Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry from Durham Constabulary responded: ‘The police are always looking to improve the service we provide to victims of sexual assault; we have improved our service significantly over recent years by listening to the views of victims and experts in this field and will always continue to put the victim at the heart of our response.’
Further information of research findings.
ENDS
¹ Source: ‘Women’s views on the policing of rape, domestic violence and stalking within the Cleveland, Durham, Northumbria and Cumbria police force areas’, Westmarland, N. and Brown, J., 2012, Durham University and Northern Rock Foundation.
MEDIA INFORMATION
For further information please contact, Dr Nicole Westmarland on 07786 173809 or email nicole.westmarland@durham.ac.uk.
For comment please contact:
Cullagh Warnock, Safety and Justice Programme Manager, Northern Rock Foundation on 0191 2848412.
Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry from Durham Constabulary, on 0191 375 2157
MEDIA CALL
You are invited to send a photographer and/or reporter to a launch of the research in Room 113, School of Applied Social Sciences, 32 Old Elvet, Durham University on Thursday, 26 July at 12.30pm when the reports’ lead author Dr Nicole Westmarland, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Durham University will be available for photographs and/or interviews.
The following will also be available for interviews at the launch: Cullagh Warnock, Northern Rock Foundation; and Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry from Durham Constabulary.
IMAGES
A high resolution headshot of Dr Westmarland is available on request from Durham University Media Relations Office on 0191 334 6075, media.relations@durham.ac.uk
SURVEY FINDINGS
A two-page summary of the findings per police force area are available on request from Dr Westmarland on 07786 173 809 or Nicole.westmarland@durham.ac.uk
END OF MEDIA RELEASE
