Anonymity and rape

[la_marquise]

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)

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That was my reaction, too. And it's a Liberal Democrat proposal.

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

Doesn't surprise me in the least, sadly. But yes, of course I'm concerned.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Thank you for commenting. SO far, you're the lone male.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

The more people who write about it, the better. This needs wide discussion.