Group rape

Report: 16
Date: 11 December 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

In the MPS, allegations of “group rape” and offences of indecent assault involving more than one perpetrator range from 10 to 90 reports per month. Reports of these types of offences peak in the summer months (May to August inclusive). Whilst the number of offences recorded fluctuates from month to month, it can be seen (Graph 1) that the overall trend is downward. By contrast, there has been an increase in reporting of all offences of rape over the same period.

A. Recommendations

That

1. members continue to support the steps being taken by Project Sapphire to improve victim care for rape victims and the investigation of rape; and
2. members note the existence of ‘group rape’ and the steps being taken by the MPS to prevent and detect it.

B. Supporting information

1. The Planning Performance and Review Committee requested a report on ‘Group Rape’ that addressed the following:

• Provide feedback on meeting in France with the Education Minister
• Details actions taken in France/good practice examples that could be replicated in the UK.
• Highlights current and future work (to be) carried out by the MPS.
• Outline any further actions taken to address group rapes (since last report in May).
• Includes recent data, figures and trends on group rapes (since last report in May).
• Includes any other issue the MPS may want to add.

Introduction

2. Group rape is defined as ‘A rape or serious indecent assault where two or more persons are present at the time of the offence or have knowledge of the offence prior to the attack’. The term ‘gang rape’ is no longer used as this can sometimes suggest that rape by more than one individual is committed solely by identifiable criminal ‘gangs’.

Feedback from meeting with French Education Ministry

3. In an earlier report to the MPA (dated 8 May 2003), attention was drawn to the issue of ‘Group Rape’ in France. The MPS agreed to undertake exploratory work with colleagues in France to determine what action is being taken to combat this crime in response to the media attention and public concerns.

4. Senior members of the MPS visited The French Ministry of Education earlier this month. The French Government’s approach to this issue is not to deal with this in isolation. Their view is to attempt to eradicate violence and the offshoot of sexual violence, occurring predominantly in the poorer regions, by addressing it in schools. The French look to instil the discipline that has not been instilled by parents, by teaching children to respect each other and to learn right from wrong. Children are being taught that the integrity of the body needs to be valued. In respect of sexual assaults and violence, there is a certain ignorance in boys who attack girls, not understanding the gravity of their action.

Examples of good practice from France

5. Every secondary school child in France has been given a copy of a book entitled ‘Code Junior’. This details the rights and obligations of those under 18 and covers every aspect of behaviour.

6. The Ministry of Education have introduced a range of measures to deal with difficult pupils. The troublemaker will be removed from the normal classroom environment and placed at a special school with other troublesome pupils. They remain there for between 4 months and 1 year and teachers, doctors, psychologists and police are utilised in their education. The Ministry of Education reports a 75% success rate.

7. There is a national helpline, contactable through local telephone numbers that is resourced by doctors, psychologists and teachers who offer practical advice to callers experiencing difficulties. The callers can remain anonymous.

8. The Ministry of Education state that pornographic television channels and websites form the basis of many children’s education. As a result, early next year, children between 10-17yrs are to be given a guide on what to watch and what not to watch on television in an attempt to draw them away from the adult movies and other potentially damaging programmes. Effective action outside the school environment is more difficult as the pornographic channels are run by private companies and cannot be influenced by the Ministry. However, one tactic has been to set up a police cell that concentrates on pornographic websites that are accessed by children.

9. It can be seen that most of these examples of good practice emanate from the Ministry of Education itself and would require Government support if they were to be replicated in the UK.

Current/future work by the MPS

10. In last May’s report, it was mentioned that some discussions had taken place with the Home Office in respect of creating a National Sexual Assault Strategy. Following these discussions, the Ministerial Committee on Sexual Offences was established in early July 2003. It is due to meet for the first time in the near future and it will focus on prevention, protection, and support. Its purpose is to take forward the implementation of the new Sexual Offences Bill and to promote an effective, joined up approach to tackling sexual offending. Other Government Departments invited to join are: Department of Health; Department for Education and Skills; Department for Constitutional Affairs; Legal Secretariat of the Law Officers; Department for Trade and Industry; Department for Work and Pensions; Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; and the devolved administrations. With possible involvement from: the Treasury; and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on human trafficking issues. The MPS will continue to use its existing contacts to inform the work of this influential group.

11. The Sapphire Intelligence Unit will conduct further strategic research. The expertise of the Sapphire Independent Advisory Group will be utilised to inform this work and to explore the possibility of gaining de-personalised information from voluntary sector organisations that may hold additional data. In addition, the MPS will continue to consult with partners and raise awareness of group rape as an issue in London. Designing a crime prevention initiative on this crime, however, is a complex and challenging prospect and must ensure that the fear of this crime is not raised unduly.

Recent data, figures and trends on ‘Group Rape’

12. Graph 1 below shows total Group Sexual Offence Allegations (‘Group Rape’ and Indecent Assault allegations) reported between March 2001 and October 2003. Historically, fewer of these allegations are reported in the winter months and there is usually a seasonal peak in the summer months of May to August. Whilst the number of offences recorded fluctuates from month to month, it can be seen that the overall trend is downward. By contrast, reporting of all offences of rape (i.e. including those with a single suspect) has increased over the same period. It is suggested that this increase is the result of increased victim confidence in the MPS.

Graph 1. Group sexual offence allegations Mar 2001 to Oct 2003 (see supporting material)

C. Equality and diversity implications

The analysis of stranger group rapes, which was contained in Appendix 1 of the previous report, appears to highlight disproportionality in ethnicity between victims and suspects (this was an executive summary but the full report was available to Members upon request). However, as has been previously stated at Paragraph 10 above, the Sapphire Intelligence Unit will conduct further detailed strategic research and the expertise of the Sapphire Independent Advisory Group will be utilised to inform this work. It is not possible to draw any meaningful conclusions in respect of disproportionality based on the limited data of rapes reported to police. Academic research and the British Crime Survey (BCS) (2001) indicate that only one in five rapes are reported to police.

D. Financial implications

There are no direct financial implications emerging from this report as all work is covered by existing budgets. Any exploratory work will be covered by existing budgets.

E. Background papers

• British Crime Survey 2001

F. Contact details

Report author: Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Macleod, Project Sapphire, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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