by Paul Dice

Created on: June 04, 2007

These attacks can have many motives, not just for sexual gratification, they also include power, and control, jealousy over money or status, revenge or just because they can.

My friend was spiked and gang raped late 2005.
Some of her attackers were known to her and she trusted the woman involved in the attack because they worked together.

This attack was not just about sex, wasn't just about rape, this was the procurement of a person, and by the use of drugs, to take away her right to say no or to even put up any form of resistance, for the sexual gratification of others.

To gain access to her pin numbers and cards, which fortunately she left at home, to be interrogated on her financial status, the location of the deeds to her house and to be held down and raped by others whilst videoing of the attacks was possibly being undertaken.
It is to be powerless, to be dropped to the floor and dragged, to totally humiliate both mentally and physically, to the point of suicide.
Yes they were very efficient and practiced, and we believe that this was not their first time.

The attacks were reported to the police and after the police investigation and the subsequent dropping of the case by the Crown Prosecution Service, based upon, shall we say, inaccuracies made during the investigation, the perpetrators escaped justice and were allowed to remain at large to go on and further threaten both myself and my friend via the internet.

To-date none have been charged for this second crime either.

Rape is generally regarded as a serious, though under reported, crime worldwide yet here in the UK, of those which are reported the conviction rate is only 6%, lowest in Europe.

This contrasts with 1970's when the conviction rate in the UK was 20%.

The Sentencing Guidelines Council recently proposed that the sentences for rapists should be reduced, and the rapists to be sent on courses to improve their attitude towards women'.

Now this gives rise to a few observations:

Is it that the current model of the reliance on science' to prove guilt or innocence instead of good old fashioned detective work, allowing most of these evil, corrupt criminals to remain at large to prey on the vulnerable and trusting again?

Does this make the whole process of reporting rape more or less likely?

What do they hope to achieve by sending these rapists on courses to change their attitude towards women?

Will they be sending those who rape men on similar courses, or women who aid and assist rapists in raping others of either sex?

What about those who rape not just for sexual gratification but to be able to control or blackmail or rob? What sort of course would suit them?

Will it encourage the victims to seek justice in the courts? Or will it make them seek retribution one way or another?

Could someone who was driven to such extremes, expect their sentences if convicted of killing or seriously injuring the person or persons who had raped them, or someone they love, be reduced on a like-by-like bases?
Or will they have a course for improving you relationship with your local rapist'?

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