Anonymity and rape

Am I the only person who is deeply concerned by the proposal our new masters have put forward to reintroduce the policy of anonymity for people accused of rape? This used to be the case and it was changed because it can be damaging to conviction rates -- when a name is given, other victims do on occasion come forward, having previously not done so out of fear, uncertainty and conviction that the system is against them. It's estimated that rape is greatly under-reported in this country already, and this move will not help that. It won't help the conviction rate, either, and that is shockingly low. People accused of other crimes are named unless they're under-age. This move is all about protecting men and that's all. It doesn't help deal with the crime, and it panders to one of the most pernicious of the rape myths, the false accusation. The level of false rape claims is no higher than false accusations of all other crimes. But whereas the latter are barely notice din the press -- as are the bulk of rape accusations -- false rape claims are almost guaranteed to be splashed all over the news. What this move tells us is that male reputation is considered to be far more important by our new regime than female safety.
Details of the new proposal are here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8695367.stm
I suggest anyone who wants to question my remarks on rape conviction rates and false accusation rates takes a quick look through the online archives of a respectable newspaper or reads one of the several excellent recent books on women and our modern raunch culture. (You could start here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/mar/20/rape-convictions-lady-stern-cps)

Metrics

New words today: 1418, mostly typed, about a third dictated via Dragon.
First new line: The traders who worked the coasts on either side of the Irish Sea carried tales of bellicose Irish clergymen starting wars and leading warbands into battle.

The rival king has arrived and Owain is about to have a nasty shock. Gif thinks there are too many people.

Book is behaving surprisingly well, though I'm concerned about pacing -- this is chapter three and so far only one person is dead (one of the warband, killed in an ambush). I need to push on to the first premeditated murder. It's being fun to write this week, however (modulo my neck, which will not behave) and that is good. I just hope it lasts.

Skirt of the day: cream and purple thistle patterned.