Editorial: A welcome tilt of the balance on rape
Evidence on the comparatively low number for false allegations of rape in the past 17 months is to be warmly welcomed
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.There is no doubt that rape is difficult to prove. It is, after all, a crime that often simply pits one person’s word against another’s. Even so, there is ample evidence of too much caution from police and prosecutors, in part out of concern that an innocent suspect might be wrongly – even maliciously – accused. Meanwhile, sexual crimes are woefully under-reported, to no small extent because victims fear that they will not be believed.
Against such a background, evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service of the vast gulf between the number of successful prosecutions for rape – 5,651 – and the number for false allegations of rape – just 35 – in the past 17 months is to be warmly welcomed. An assumption of innocence until proven guilty is, of course, central to our criminal justice system. So should be an assumption that a victim of crime is telling the truth.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments