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(Picture: PA Archive)Allegations of rape and other sex crimes by police should be investigated by an external force to help rebuild women’s confidence, MPs were told on Wednesday as they were warned that trust in policing among victims had plunged to an all-time low.
Zoe Byrne, from Victim Support, told the Commons home affairs select committee that the need for “genuine independence” in investigations had been highlighted by a case involving a woman called Rebecca who was told that her rape allegation against a police officer was not being pursued by a colleague who used the suspect’s nickname.
She said the officer had also told Rebecca that he had worked with the suspect for years when informing her that the case was being dropped.
Ms Byrne said the case was an illustration of why trust among victims, and particularly women and members of minority communities, was at an “all-time low”, creating a “crisis point” which required action to put right.
“At the very least these allegations [of rape by police] need to be investigated by a different police force,” Ms Byrne told the hearing in Parliament today.
“I would argue the independence needs to go beyond that because why is the culture any different in a different force?
“We’ve heard positive words, including from the new Met Commissioner, but there needs to be action. Women in this country need to see action to change that culture.”
