Given that the focus of this study has been attrition, most attention has been on the factors that account for cases being lost or dropped. The evaluation of SARCs (see Lovett et al., 2004) also contains lessons about elements of practice that make a positive difference. Poor practice erodes confidence, not just that of complainants with the CJS, but also that of agencies with each other and of the general public. It should be axiomatic that a complainant who is treated in a respectful and compassionate manner, by skilled professionals, is not only less likely to withdraw support from the legal process at a later date, but also more likely to feel able to tell what she knows, and include at the outset any issues which could be seen as discrediting. These are gestures of trust, and unless those 52. Recent Bar Council guidelines do now allow for barristers to introduce themselves, but this does not appear to
responding demonstrate that they are trustworthy, they will not be forthcoming. The police are often the first official point of contact and as such set the tone for subsequent processes.
A negative police response can compound the trauma suffered by a rape victim, making it less likely that she will decide to proceed with legal action and a strong possibility that her experience will deter others from even making the initial police contact in similar circumstances. If for no other reason, it is in the overall interests of law enforcement for the police to act in ways that are consistent with promoting the
victim’s emotional well-being. (Jordan, 2001b, p75)
The experience of feeling believed was particularly vital ... Feeling believed was of significant assistance both in dealing with the criminal justice system and also in
coping with the trauma of the rape itself. (Temkin, 1997, p519)
The research data contain many examples of initial police responses being thoughtful and respectful (70% of questionnaire respondents were satisfied with the initial police response), but the investigative process was experienced much more negatively. The following positive example reveals the significance for complainants of being kept informed and of continued contact.
The police rang me and kept me in touch and said, “We’ve not heard anything yet, how are you keeping?” and X [female police officer] she rang every fortnight, just to see how I was. I explained my fears to her about actually going to trial and him getting away with it ... I said, “X, I love to hear from you in some ways, because it’s nice to know that you’re still bothered and you still care.”
(St Mary’s, Service User Interview 1, Acquittal) C o m p a re this with the far greater number of questionnaire respondents and interv i e w e e s (n=23) who had the opposite experience of communication from the police.
My argument is with the police. And the way they’ve treated me ... If they’d have kept me informed then maybe I wouldn’t have been as annoyed with them … And they probably might have made me feel better if I still thought that they cared.
(St Mary’s, Service User Interview 3, Undetected)
And then they kind of just disappeared for ages, I mean, about three weeks after that I called X [SOLO officer] and she said she had nothing to do with it anymore but she’d try and get them to ring me. And they didn’t. And nobody was telling me
anything, I didn’t speak to them for like four weeks before they came to work, and then I don’t think I ever spoke to them again after that ... That really was it for ages ... I was always really scared of phoning, because when I phoned I would sort of say “Can I speak to so-and-so please?” and it would be like “Oh, there’s nobody in, and what’s it about?” and I wouldn’t really know what to say … It just seemed to me to be all wrong, that they were a service provider and I was almost having to, I don’t know … I almost felt like I was putting them out, because every time I spoke to them they were telling me how busy they were.
(REACH, Service User Interview 8, Undetected)
I am a bit annoyed because the only way I have found out about the courts is through the STAR helpline. The police have not been in touch, only once has someone come to see me and that was to take another statement for the CPS about how I have been after the attack. I thank STAR for the case tracking – at least I know when the court dates are and what is happening. (STAR, Q1, 2085, Conviction)
I think the police handled my case very badly, at first when they found out about the rape they were very eager for me to press charges. Then after a few weeks they didn’t seem at all interested. When the case went to court the DC didn’t even turn up for the trial. I was furious the police did not telephone me to tell me the outcome. This was very important to me as I needed to obtain an emergency injunction against my attacker. Because the police failed to contact me this injunction was delayed for two days, which was very upsetting and frightening for me.
(Comparison 3, Q2, 4016, Detected no proceedings) Some of the participants were insightful about why these problems persist, and how they could be overcome.
The crime of rape is still very much a difficult process to go through, the police are still in the dark ages and you are still very much made to feel that somehow you are to blame, that you could have prevented it. The police really need to look into the training of officers and how as a unit of trust they can improve on this. It’s hard enough to admit to being raped without someone doubting you. It’s no wonder so many people don’t report it … STAR at least listens in a non-judgemental way, and listens to you, never doubting. They are really understanding and helpful and just having someone believe you can help you live again. Without STAR, I would have
The comments about SARCs reveal that it is the tone and content of human interaction, the sense of being respected and treated as someone who is more than ‘just a victim’ which was not only appreciated, but enabled women to cope with lengthy and difficult demands, such as a forensic examination.
And the respect I was shown! I didn’t respect myself, you see, so for somebody to show you that much respect, and kindness, you start thinking, “I’m not a bad person, I’m not this dirty person, I thought I was, tainted, violated. They’re treating me as normal.” Something terrible has happened but they’re treating me normally! And you get a little bit – you feel confident, and more in control of things.
(St Mary’s, Service User Interview 11, Acquittal)