RCNI Press Release 01 November 2004

The RCNI caution on garda reading of the 2003 annual crime figures on rape

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) today cautioned against reaching conclusions regarding the number of incidents of rape and sexual assault in our society, based on the 2003 Garda annual report released today. The gardaí revealed that reported incidents of rape were down by 24% on 2002. It would be flawed, however, to state that this figure means a reduction in the actual incidents of rape.

Kate Mulkerrins, Legal Coordinator of the RCNI, said, ‘Rape and sexual offences are uniquely different to all other headline crimes. Reported incidents on such crimes as murder and robbery can be taken as a very good indication of actual incidents. This assumption however, has long been recognised by both those offering frontline services to victims of sexual violence and expert researchers, as unworkable for this crime.

‘What we can say with certainty is that, worryingly, rises in reported incidents in previous years have not yielded increases in cases going to court and convictions being won. Indeed we can see that there has been a relentless decline in the percentage of reported cases resulting in proceedings. This is despite the detection rate for rape by the gardaí being relatively high. The RCNI, therefore, welcome the Department, the Gardaí and the DPP’s continued support for our research into the unique qualities of these crimes within the criminal justice system.

‘Although we cannot comment on individual cases, generally the RCNI feel that a rise in the reporting of rape would be welcomed. Based on our expertise we would say that a rise in reporting might well indicate an improvement in victims’ faith in the justice system, an improvement in the justice system’s ability to deal with this crime and/or changes in public attitudes which respected the experiences of the victim in this crime. All of these are would be welcomed. Correspondingly a drop in reporting, as we have seen in 2003, might well be an indication of our failure as a society and in our laws to face up to the realities of rape in Ireland’.

Notes:
• The RCNI is the national forum of Rape Crisis Centres, which provides a strong voice for survivors and is a catalyst for social change to end rape and all forms of sexual violence.
• The RCNI, with the support of the Department of Justice and Law Reform and others, has commissioned NUIG to carry out an extensive three year study into the exact nature of the complex relationship between incidents of sexual violence and progression through the criminal justice system. The continued work and cooperation of Rape Crisis Centres and survivors of sexual assault and rape with this research will be crucial.

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