Jonathan Daniel Pryce / @GarconJon
Campaigners and politicians have voiced strong concerns over a new plan that will ask rape victims to hand over their mobile phones to police. Police forces in England and Wales can ask for historical data, including photos, texts, emails – or complainants may risk having their cases dropped.
Prosecutors say the forms make it clear investigators should not go beyond “reasonable lines of enquiry” but if complainants refuse “then it may it may not be possible for the investigation or prosecution to continue”. Several female politicians have shown anger toward the move by The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). “At the moment victims are reluctant to come forward. This new measure will be viewed as an additional barrier,” tweeted Labour MP Dawn Butler. Additionally, Labour MP Harriet Harman demanded urgent action against the move: “Serious problem of under-reporting rape. Victims vilified in court. Government must take urgent action regarding police and CPSUK demanding all victim’s social media.” The victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, also voiced her concerns on Twitter.
The move comes at a time when rape prosecutions are at a five-year low in the UK. “Real progress has been made by the police and specialist support organisations to support rape victims to come forward. An important part of this has been a shift away from victims feeling as if they have to prove their innocence. The prospect of giving police material not relevant to their case could undermine that work,” Conservative MP and former minister and chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, Maria Miller told Evening Standard. The Centre for Women’s Justice and Big Brother Watch are preparing to legally challenge the policy.
“Mobile telephones should not be examined as a matter of course and we have made that very clear in our guidance to police and to prosecutors,” said a spokesperson for the CPS. “However, in circumstances when it is necessary – both for gathering evidence and meeting our disclosure obligations – we hope the clearer information we have provided will help complainants give free, specific and informed consent.”
