Young think sex attacks cannot be ‘rape’ unless victims fight back

ALMOST half of young people believe a victim has to fight back for it to constitute rape, a study suggests.

More than 3,000 adults took part in the survey for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) with attitudes among 18 to 24-year-olds raising particular concern.

There was widespread confusion around the legal definition of the crime with 49 per cent of respondents admitting they did not understand the issue of consent.

Only 53 per cent of younger adults recognised that it could still be rape if the victim did not fight back, while a similar number thought a man could not be guilty of rape if he had been drinking or taking drugs.

Only about a quarter of 18- to 24-yearolds understood that if a person said online that they wanted to meet up and have sex they did not have to go through with it, rising to 54 per cent among the wider population. Only two thirds understood that a rape victim did not always immediately report the offence to the police.

A third correctly identified that women rarely made up rape allegations.

Baljit Ubhey, of the CPS, said: “This survey, the largest of its kind for many years, shows that while public understanding of rape has grown over the last 20 years there is still more to do.

“Our specialist prosecutors know more than most that rape can be commonly misunderstood. It is crucial we stay up to date with any evolving misconceptions in the modern digital age.

“These findings will be used to update our training and guidance for prosecutors and advocates, ” she added. Baroness Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, said: “This powerful report echoes what survivors tell me: that harmful ‘myths’ persist in our justice system.

“These assumptions also play a part in contributing to excessive and unjustified requests for private victim data.

“Victims deserve a system that respects and upholds their rights.”