Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Over 90% of sexual assault cases reported from nightclubs and pubs closed without charge
    • Drag show stars bringing arena tour to Birmingham
    • Charity changes name to become Birmingham Hospice
    • Passengers facing platform changes when £7.5million repair project begins at Birmingham New Street Station
    • Tributes pour in following death of commentator John Motson
    • Birmingham date confirmed for S Club 7 reunion tour
    • JLS confirm Birmingham date as they return to the stage with new tour
    • Campaign aiming to help Birmingham train passengers support others
    Birmingham Eastside
    • News
      • COVID-19
    • Sport
    • Culture
    • Politics
    • Contact us
    • Data
    Birmingham Eastside
    You are at:Home»News»Crime»Over 90% of sexual assault cases reported from nightclubs and pubs closed without charge

    Over 90% of sexual assault cases reported from nightclubs and pubs closed without charge

    0
    By Gladys Page on March 17, 2023 Crime, News

    In three years more than nine in every ten nightclub and pub sexual assault cases were closed without anyone being charged, according to data obtained by Birmingham Eastside.

    The data, provided in response to a Freedom of Information request to West Midlands Police, showed that only 8% of cases resulted in a charge or summons, while further action was not possible in 85% of cases despite a suspect being identified, because of “evidential difficulties”.

    Yvonne Langham, Head of ISVA Services at the Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP), said: “It can come down to just the victim’s word against the perpetrators. A lot of offenders will lie through their back of their teeth in order to get themselves off the hook.

    “When someone has just been assaulted their brain is processing the trauma and the initial account they provide may not be as detailed as a full statement taken at a slightly later date.

    “The differences are not always seen as normal and how we as humans process data, but sometimes as an evidential difficulty”

    Delays caused by the pandemic mean it now can take around four years before cases reach court.

    “People are tired of the case overhanging them, overwhelmed,” Langham said. “And they just want to move on with their lives.”

    One in eight sexual assault victims were male

    West Midlands Police recorded 40 reports of sexual assault between January 2019 and January 2022. 35 of the victims were female, one of which was under 13. Five victims were male.

    Langham said: “It’s well known to the public that prosecution for sexual assault is critically low. And it needs to be addressed that not enough cases are getting into court because it puts people off from coming forward.”

    The West Midlands doesn’t currently have a specific sexual offences team, and cases are handled under a wider department. Langham says this means the officers assigned to cases are often relatively new and inexperienced.

    “We really need a team dedicated purely to sexual offences, where officers can be trained in how to work well with survivors of sexual violence. I believe this will contribute to people having more faith in reporting and hopefully an improvement in conviction rates moving forwards.

    “The police must put suspects at the core of all investigations, not victims. Victims don’t have anything to gain from lying. Sadly we live in a victim blaming culture where it usual for victims to be asked what they did, or failed to do which then contributed to them being attacked. We must all remember that there is only one person to blame for a rape or sexual assault, and that — without question — is the offender.”

    West Midlands Police were approached for comment but did not respond.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Gladys Page

    Related Posts

    Charity changes name to become Birmingham Hospice

    Passengers facing platform changes when £7.5million repair project begins at Birmingham New Street Station

    Campaign aiming to help Birmingham train passengers support others

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Listen
    bhameastside · LISTEN: How Covid-19 has impacted outpatient appointments across England and Wales
    Recent Posts
    • Over 90% of sexual assault cases reported from nightclubs and pubs closed without charge
    • Drag show stars bringing arena tour to Birmingham
    • Charity changes name to become Birmingham Hospice
    • Passengers facing platform changes when £7.5million repair project begins at Birmingham New Street Station
    • Tributes pour in following death of commentator John Motson
    • Birmingham date confirmed for S Club 7 reunion tour
    • JLS confirm Birmingham date as they return to the stage with new tour
    • Campaign aiming to help Birmingham train passengers support others
    Latest video stories
    April 5, 2022

    UK visas for Ukrainian refugees: long delays and an insecure scheme

    January 22, 2021

    WATCH: DAME and Shai Brides on live music in lockdown

    January 13, 2021

    WATCH: BE Talks – Black Country Blokes chat about mental health podcast

    Birmingham Eastside Talks
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qjjNdGmoqk
    About

    Birmingham Eastside covers news and events across Birmingham and the Midlands region in the UK.

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.