Rape and Sexual
Assault
Amethyst Team
From 10th June 2013 North Wales Police will bring
together specialist staff from across North Wales to form one team
dedicated to investigating rape.
This team will work closely with partners in
the Crown Prosecution Service of Wales, Betsi Calwalder Health
Board and third sector colleagues to form a cohort of rape
specialists to be known as Amethyst Team.
Comprising of a Detective Inspector, three
Detective Sergeants, twelve Detective Constables, six Specially
Trained officers and an analyst; Amethyst Team will bring rape
specialists under one command structure ensuring a victim focussed
investigative response to all reports of rape. Amethyst Team
will also utilise its analytical capability to better understand
offences of rape in North Wales and provide a proactive response to
preventing rape and safeguarding those vulnerable to rape
offences.
North Wales Police recognise the unique nature
of rape as a crime and are dedicated to providing specialist
investigators with skills and training specific to improving the
response provided to all victims. Any victim of rape aged
under thirteen years and those under eighteen years offended
against by family members will be assisted by specialist child
abuse investigators within public protection units. Victims
over thirteen years for non-interfamilial offences and all offences
where the victim is over eighteen years will be assisted by
Amethyst Team staff.
The provision of the Amethyst Team will
provide North Wales with a unit dedicated to improving
investigation standards involving rape cases. It will provide a
victim focused approach for those affected by these types of crimes
and it is hoped will increase public confidence in the communities
we serve.
The objectives of the team are to Improve
victim care, Improve investigations, Improve partnership working
within agencies involved in sexual offences and ultimately to
Improve criminal justice outcomes.
We take seriously all reports of rape and serious sexual
assaults, regardless of age, race, religion, gender or sexual
orientation. Serious sexual assaults affect both men and women of
all ages and backgrounds.
Many people assume that the perpetrators of serious sexual
assaults and rapes are usually strangers however; national research
indicates that most sexual assaults occur within the home. A total
of 54 per cent of female victims of serious sexual assault reported
that a partner/spouse or ex partner/ex spouse had been the
perpetrator.
What is Rape?
- A person commits rape if he intentionally penetrates the
vagina, anus or mouth of another person with his penis, without
their consent.
A intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of B with his
penis
B does not consent to the penetration
A does not reasonably believe that B consents
- The slightest penetration is enough and it need only be
momentary to amount to rape, provided it happened without your
consent.
You may have consented to vaginal penetration but not anal
penetration- this could still be rape.
Penetration is the act, which starts at entry with the penis and
ends with withdrawal. Ejaculation is not necessary.
Your assailant must have penetrated you intentionally, which means
it must have been his purpose or his aim rather than a mistake. He
must have penetrated you without your consent or continued to
penetrate you after you withdrew your consent. It is up to the male
to make sure he has your consent before he proceeds or continues
with penetration. In court, he will have to show why he believed
you were consenting, by telling the jury the steps he took to make
sure.
What is 'Sexual Assault'?
- Both men and women can commit sexual assault and it can be
committed against either a male or female.
An offence occurs when:
A intentionally touches B
The touching is sexual
B does not consent to the touching and
A does not reasonably believe that B consents
Touching has to be sexual, and can be with any item or any body
part (whether your assailant’s or anyone else’s) and it can be
through your clothes (for assailant’s or anyone else’s) and it can
be through your clothes (for example even bottom- pinching could be
a sexual assault).
What is 'consent'?
A person consents if he/ she agree by choice, and has the
freedom and capacity to make that choice.
The law recognises that you can withdraw consent at any time before
or during a sexual act. Your agreement has to be by choice. You
must also have the capacity to make your choice.
Can a male be raped or sexually assaulted?
- All men, heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual can be raped or
assaulted.
Ignorance and misunderstanding surrounding male rape can cause men
to suffer in silence but it shouldn’t be that way.
It’s just as important for a man, as it is for a woman, to think
about reporting an assault to us.
- If a man chooses to report a rape he will be treated without
prejudice, and with as much understanding and sensitivity as anyone
else.
- Regardless of the circumstances you are not to blame and we
will conduct a thorough yet sensitive investigation.
- We have a team of specially trained male and female officers
and can arrange for you to see a male or female doctor if you would
prefer.
- If you choose not to report the incident to us please don’t
suffer in silence. There are a number of national support
organisations that provide information, support and counselling for
men who have been raped or sexually abused.
Reporting the attack to the police
If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted,
we encourage you not to suffer in silence. Report it to the police
so you can get the help and support available. You can call North
Wales Police 101 or 999 in an emergency.
We understand it is your decision whether speak to the police and
it is one you shouldn’t be pushed into, but it is important to
remember that the sooner the assault is reported, the more evidence
we will be able to collect to help prevent you or someone else
being hurt again.
What will happen if/when I involve the
police?
If you do not wish to contact the police, it still may be
important that you receive medical attention and support; you might
also want to pass on details anonymously. In this case people
can refer themselves directly to the Amethyst Sexual Assault
Referral Centre and discuss their case confidentially.
Trained crisis workers will be able to explain what options are
available; advise on sexual health concerns and arrange referral to
support agencies.
It is important to know that if you have been sexually assaulted it
is not your fault, it can affect how you feel for a long time and
you don’t have to cope with it on your own.