Rape cases are four times less likely to go to court than other type of physical assault.
Rape cases are four times less likely to go to court than other type of physical assault.
3 May 2018
Rape cases are four times less likely to go to court than other type of physical assault. A Herald investigation's found almost two and a half thousand reported violent sex crimes in 2016 ended in no charges being laid, thus no one being taken to court. While official data shows since 1994 almost 14-thousand aggravated sexual assaults ended this way - there could be thousands more. National Sexual Violence Survivor advocate Louise Nicholas says in her experience, police are much better at empathising with a victim and explaining when there's not enough evidence to prosecute. She says to be heard by someone in authority is a big thing for those who have been attacked. Nicholas suggests a review take place to identify how survivors can be better protected if their alleged attackers aren't prosecuted.
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