Police Interviews With Victims or Rape: Perceptions, Practice and the Law in England and Wales

• In Event: Researching sex crimes

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary findings from an ongoing thesis examining the role, function, and impact of police interviews with adult female victims of rape in England and Wales. Against the backdrop of long-standing concerns regarding police performance and victim treatment, this research is particularly timely given the recent Prisoners and Victims Act 2024, which may introduce new legal obligations regarding the conduct of police interviews with victims of rape.

The study critically analyses the history of issues in rape investigations, the role of police discretion, and the relationship between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to provide a comprehensive understanding of the investigative process. Legislative measures such as the Victims' Code 2020 and the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, alongside best practice guidelines including Achieving Best Evidence 2020 and the National Operating Model for rape investigations, frame the analysis of police interviews with victims.

This project is structured around three empirical themes: interviews with police officers who have conducted rape victim interviews, surveys of rape victims regarding their interview experiences, and case analysis of police interview transcripts. This paper will focus on the preliminary findings from police officer interviews and interview transcriprs, offering insights into their perspectives on conducting rape victim interviews, adherence to best practice guidelines, and the challenges they encounter. These early findings contribute to an understanding of police perceptions and practices in handling rape victim interviews, with implications for policy reform and training.

Author

• Sophie Marsh, University of the West of England