I'm seeing a lot of people tweeting about the Cyprus case expressing shock that the woman was questioned for hours without a lawyer present
This also happens in the UK, where there is no obligation for rape complainants to have legal support or advice during interviews
Bonny Turner, who waived her anonymity, was questioned for five hours at a City of London Police station without food or a break
At the end, she was told to sign a witness statement that contained inaccuracies and impacted the CPS decision not to charge
independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/…
Rape complainants can be asked to hand over phones and sign 'Stafford statements' giving blanket access to their personal records during these interviews
The historic position has been that they don't need legal representation because police are acting in interests of justice
...but complainants are frequently distressed by questioning, drained, suffering trauma or still in shock, and are not fully aware of the implications of their decisions
Most agree to demands and those who do not are told the case may not proceed
independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/…
Early last year, police and prosecutors were denying that mobile phones were being demanded as a matter of course
But they have since formalised that very process with controversial permission forms that aim to improve information and consent
independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/…
The treatment of victims is one of the factors driving the fall in rape prosecution rates to just 1.4%
Research by the @LDNVictimsComm suggested that tens of thousands of rape cases have been dropped by victims because investigations are worsening trauma
independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/…
@LDNVictimsComm For those cases that proceed, apparent inconsistencies that can arise through the way complainants are interviewed can torpedo chances of the CPS charging at a later date
Advocates have been calling for a victims' law to make minimum standards of support mandatory for all crimes
@LDNVictimsComm The Cyprus case is horrific, but it would be a mistake to think that the treatment of rape complainants is a foreign issue
Many Brits commenting on #Ibelieveher would be shocked at the situation closer to home
@LDNVictimsComm Here are the latest statistics from England and Wales
independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/…
@LDNVictimsComm I expanded on this thread in this article, which includes comments from rape victims who told me about their experiences with British police
“As a victim, you are the one under suspicion. You are the one who has to prove your good character.”
independent.co.uk/independentpre…
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.