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Contributed by Caz
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The news about a court case collapsing because a young woman was too drunk to remember whether or not she gave consent for sex upset me today. The statistics did not shock me, because I’ve heard them all before. Fewer than 6% of rape allegations lead to a conviction… and I know why.
In 2002 I was in a similar situation. The difference was I was sober enough to realise what had happened, and I managed to put up a good fight. Unfortunately I was still raped and it didn’t lead to a conviction. It didn’t even go to court. I am a statistic. I am one of the 94%.
A few hours later, when I found myself in the “rape suite” of my local police station (yes – this is what they call it) I was being crucified by a policeMAN – why couldn’t I have been questioned by a policewoman?
I was there for about 3 hours all together, and I really wish I hadn’t bothered calling the police at all. I practically got the blame for my own rape. The police asked for every detail of my sex life, and came to the conclusion that I must have deserved being raped, just because I had an active sex life.
It is no wonder that 94% of rapes don’t lead to a conviction. If the police don’t even believe you then you don’t have a leg to stand on in court. It all boils down to the victim’s word against the rapist’s – who is, of course, going to deny the allegation, and say that it was consented sex… except that the victim was drunk.
To quote the BBC website, “In law an unconscious person cannot give consent”. This should include unconscious due to over consumption of alcohol.
And people wonder why I don’t have much respect for the police. Well now they know.
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I agree
Written by Mini Moo on 2006-01-16 14:39:15
I am so sorry to hear of your injustice Caz.
I know too many people this has happened to - although some were even too scared to contact the police, knowing it would lead no-where and having to re-live the trauma for nothing.
Where does it state that sex is consented if just the bloke agrees? Most blokes will shag anything, so why is it that when they are refused, they decide it is their 'right' and will do it anyway?
What kind of 'man' would prey on a woman who is barely able to know where she is, let alone decide if she wants to have sex with him??? Someone who is so low and repulsive they can't find soemone who will say yes - that's the kind of man.
I really do hope that one day, laws will change so women can get their justice. Rape can shatter lives and ruin future relationships for a long time, if not a whole life. Why can someone walk away scott-free after violating someone and scarring them mentally?
I for one would hunt them out and publicly castrate them if I could...
| Quidnunc
Written by Guest on 2006-05-14 11:10:14
First let me say that rape, per se, is wrong. However, as an adult one should know that excessive alcohol in the bloodstream will impare the mental faculties, leaving one vulnerable. Therefore, anyone who knowingly gets drunk to the point where they don't know what is happening around and to them should not cry over spilled milk. As an aside but relevant observation the current trend of 'binge drinking' and the antics participants get up to it is little wonder that they are taken advantage of.
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