Why are sexual assaults and rape on the increase?
I work within the Criminal Justice System and this year alone has given me concern around how many under 25 year old, have been charged with Sexual Assaults or Rape. Moreover, some of the situations that have led to these allegations of sexual assaults and/or rape, have led me to write this article.
SEXUAL ASSAULTS
- The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) provides the best measure of victimisation and estimated that 2.3% of adults (3.3% women and 1.2% men) aged 16 years and over were victims of sexual assault (including attempts) in the year ending March 2022 survey; this equates to an estimated 1.1 million adults (798,000 women and 275,000 men).
- Approximately 16.6% of adults aged 16 years and over (7.9 million) had experienced sexual assault (including attempts) since the age of 16 years; 1.9 million were a victim of rape (7.7% women and 0.2% men).
SO WHAT ARE SEXUAL ASSAULTS?
The term sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Some forms of sexual assault include: Attempted rape. Fondling or unwanted sexual touching. Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, such as oral sex or penetrating the perpetrator’s body.
Furthermore, Sexual assault can involve the touching of skin, clothing or the use of something else to touch skin or clothing.
However, under English and Welsh law, forms of sexual violence and abuse that involve penetration of someone’s mouth, vagina or anus are considered different crimes: rape or assault by penetration.
WHY RAPE IS DIFFERENT FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT
Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003:
- Sexual assault is defined as sexual touching without consent and carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
- Rape is defined as someone with a penis penetrating another person’s vagina, anus or mouth without consent, and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
- Assault by penetration is defined as someone penetrating another person’s vagina, anus or mouth with something other than a penis, without their consent, and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
THE AFTERMATH
The impact of a Sexual Assault or Rape on an individual is broad. The trauma can lead to mental health issues, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), hostility, anxiety, substance abuse, and depression. Many of these offences are not reported and that is why the Police records are not always accurate. Some people feel ashamed of what has happened to them, there’s blame, others are afraid that they will not be believed even if they go through the legal process. Moreover if that person is a child or was a child when the sexual assault or rape occurred the trauma can be life-altering, especially if it was inflicted by the care-giver.
SCENARIO 1
You’ve gone out with friends clubbing, had too much to drink and convinced your girlies that you could be left safely with some man you met that night. You then wake up the next day in his bed and can’t remember how you got there. You are stark naked!
SCENARIO 2
You’ve been chatting to a girl on Snap Chat for a while, things have been getting ‘nice’. She’s told you what she is going to do to you when she sees you. So when she calls you and tells you that she is in your area, of course you invite her to your yard. Once inside now my girl is switching on you, not even wanting you to touch her, wth!
MALE ATTITUDES MUST CHANGE
I have spoken to groups of males, of varied ages about different scenarios that could lead to allegations of rape. I kid you not of the ignorance of some of the males from the questions, I was being asked. When I relayed this to some of my professional colleagues some were in disbelief! The reality is, some males do not appreciate that they have set up an atmosphere where their behaviour could be considered a sexual assault or even rape.
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
My plan is to get into schools to inform students that an alcohol or drug fuelled female CANNOT give consent. Moreover, if in doubt DO NOT touch her intimately and DO NOT have sex with her or him. This applies to adult men too, not just school age boys. Furthermore, sending photos of her bits or engaging in sexual talk on social media, does not mean she is up for it! DO NOT expect her to have sex when you meet. If she says No its NO.
THE NO OPTIONS ATMOSPHERE
Furthermore, do not ‘set up an atmosphere’ where she believes that she has to have sex with you. What do I mean? Locking the doors, leaving a weapon in full view. Allow your Mother to vacate the room or your friends leave. Hint that you may have recorded her doing something.
SELF MEDICATION
Most cannot get over how a calm evening, ends in a nightmare! Many are living that nightmare in trauma, and want to ‘get over it!’ So that one glass of alcohol becomes several, and that spliff becomes a daily routine, until something stronger is needed. All in the hope of dulling the pain, forgetting about it for a moment.
WHERE TO FIND HELP
What really is needed is professional help in the form of counselling.
1.RAPE CRISIS England & Wales – Call free on 0808 500 2222
2.SURVIVORS TRUST UK & Ireland – Helpline call 0808 801 0818
REMEMBER IF A RAPE IS RECENT
- Try not to shower or bathe
- Try not to brush your teeth
- Try not to change or wash your clothes – if you do change clothes, put everything you were wearing into a plastic bag
- Try to avoid eating or drinking
If you decide to report to the police, and the incident took place within forensic timescales, you’ll be asked to visit a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). Some organisations have specialist workers and Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVA’s) who can accompany you. If you agree to visit the SARC, forensic evidence can be collected by a specially trained doctor or nurse. After the forensic evidence is collected you will be asked to provide a recorded account of what happened. This can be used as evidence in a trial. You will also be asked if you want to make a victim personal statement about the impact of the assault. You may not be ready to do this so soon after the assault. However you can make a victim personal statement at any time or add to a statement you made earlier.
Please stay safe and take care of yourself,
Akilah