Three in four survivors at sexual violence trials 'subject to rape myths'

Three-quarters of survivors of sexual violence whose cases go to trial are subjected to rape myths during cross-examination, such as being asked what they were wearing or if they were out for revenge, research shows.

- Diane Taylor

A report by Victim Support said the court process was retraumatising victims, with one telling researchers: "You're a piece of meat being pulled through the court system."

The report, Suffering for Justice, surveyed 40 survivors of sexual violence and specialists supporting them through the court process and analysed 38 cases that went through the courts between March and October of last year. Some survivors who went to court developed PTSD and suicidal thoughts and some attempted to kill themselves.

Long waits for cases to get to court and repeat adjournments at every stage of the criminal justice system compounded their trauma. The average wait for an adult case to come to court in England and Wales is about three years; it is 2.4 years for cases involving young people.

Ministry of Justice data shows that in the year ending June 2023, 11,506 defendants were proceeded against for sexual offences and in 2022-23, 3,004 defendants were charged with rape-related offences.