ABSTRACT
The policing of rape is in permacrisis. Decades of research document the “justice gap” or “attrition problem” in rape cases, that is, the empirical finding that the vast majority of police-recorded rapes do not result in a suspect being charged and the case being tested in a court of law. The police are the gatekeepers of the justice system, and most rape disclosures do not make it past the policing stage. Attempts at reforming the policing of rape have resulted in some improvements. However, they have failed to narrow the justice gap in case outcomes, reduce sexual violence, or ensure that victim-survivors are consistently afforded their Victim’s Rights and treated fairly during the investigation process. This chapter provides a brief overview of the contemporary problems of police responses to rape in England and Wales and sets out a six-pillar framework for radically and sustainably improving rape investigations, sexual violence prevention, and officer engagement with victim-survivors.
