United Kingdom – A significant survey of rape and sexual assault survivors in England and Wales has revealed that 75% of respondents reported that their mental health was negatively impacted during the police investigation into their cases. The survey, conducted as part of the government-funded Operation Soteria Bluestone program, gathered insights from 2,000 survivors.
Key findings from the survey include:
42% of survivors did not consistently feel believed during the police investigation.
56% of respondents stated they are unlikely to report a rape again.
Some survivors expressed fear of the police, with one individual stating, “I am more afraid of the police than being raped again.”
Another survivor shared their sadness over the police dismissing their case quickly, which they believed resulted in someone else going through a similar experience.
One survivor reported that their rapist is a serving armed police officer who was neither arrested nor suspended.
The survey’s findings also highlight that “some survivors have de-facto lost access to what should be a universal public service available to all – being able to call the police when in danger.”
Additional statistics from the survey include:
- Only 26% of respondents felt that officers understood their experiences.
- 31% did not consistently feel safe with officers.
- Only 37% stated that the police made them feel valued.
Professor Katrin Hohl, a criminology and criminal justice professor at City, University of London, led the research and described the results as “sobering,” emphasizing the tremendous harm that poor policing has caused to many survivors of rape and sexual assault.
The findings underscore the need for improved police responses and support systems for survivors of sexual violence to ensure they are treated with empathy, sensitivity, and professionalism throughout the investigative process.
