Why Is This?

[youngmafbog]

http://news.sky.com/story/1412803/rape-levels-at-record-high-figures-show

Is it simply reporting is better or people feel more confident in reporting?

Or is there something else that has changed recently in the UK that is the reason?

[jim360]

Very complicated question. My suspicion is that it's almost certainly down to better reporting and a higher likelihood of bringing such incidents to the attention of police, rather than an actual increase in the occurrence of such offences.

[ummmm]

Many cases of rape just weren't reported. Knowing what you have to go through after reporting a rape would put many women off (men also)

Everything about your lifestyle is questioned.

Now we're in an era of 'no means no'

[hc4361]

It is a huge social, political and legal change over the last few years.

Men, women and children are listened to when they report sexual abuse. The cases are investigated properly and the victims treated with respect.

This simply was not the case even 20 years ago. I would stick my neck out and say there is not a higher rate of sexual offending today but there is a much higher rate of reporting and we all know many of the cases currently being reported and going through courts now are historic, some going back 50 years or more.

[whiskeryron]

I would suggest that Alcohol has a lot to do with it, young men & young women under the influence have very little control. What happens when you are in an alcoholic daze bears little resemblance the next morning in the light of day.

[ummmm]

I don't know about that, Ron. I've spent many a night out drinking and have never woke up with a stranger in my bed.

[Buenchico]

Changes in legislation (and the way that the CPS decide to charge people) might also have something to do with it, as the definition of 'rape' is now far broader than it used to be. For example, the perpetrators of the famous 'Carry On' scene with the daffodil could now be charged with rape because anal penetration with any object is included within the current definition.

[whiskeryron]

You my dear ummmm are very much in control, have you not seen disgusting news reports & pics of young men & girls ( especially girls) off their trolley outside drinking establishments ?

[ummmm]

Yes, I have, but those pics are of drunk people, not people going home with a random strangers.

[youngmafbog]

I fear you may lead a sheltered life Ummm.

Unfortunately WR is right, the photo's dont show what goes on next. If you want to see that just look at any reality tv program on Ibiza or Magaluff.

[atalanta]

A friend of mine was raped, and she reported it. He was caught, tried and sent down for 7 years. However, she said that if the same thing happened again, she would not report it because what she was put through at the trial was worse than the original ( very violent ) rape.

[whiskeryron]

Rape is not always about random strangers. These days apparently a lot of it is about young men taking advantage of vulnerable girls who have imbibed too much drink.

[ummmm]

Lol....I live far from a sheltered life.

I was brought up in a pub and have worked in many more over the years. I've seen people do drunken stupid things on a regular basis.

Having a one night stand is different to taking a stupidly drunk person home and having sex with them.

[hc4361]

How many of those encounters result in reports of rape?

[ummmm]

I'd say not many. People wake up, think 'oh sugar' and do the walk of shame.

It wasn't that long ago that rape with a marriage wasn't frowned upon.

Times are changing.

[hc4361]

It's not that long ago that rape within marriage was not an offence.

I agree not many reports of rape are a result of a drunken encounter and frankly blaming the victim is abhorrent.

[jim360]

Isn't that "Assault by Penetration" rather than rape, buenchico?

[ummmm]

It is. Like blaming a woman for wearing a short skirt. Years back they were made to feel that they brought on themselves.

[whiskeryron]

AND

[RandyMarsh]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1373295/The-grey-crime-wave-Offences-65s-rise-47.html

Be interested to see how many of these terrible crimes were committed by youths and how many by people over 30.

Kids have always got drunk.

[hc4361]

RandyMarsh, statitistics from 2012:

Females aged 16 to 59
England and Wales Percentage
Age group Male Female
Under 16 1 -
16-19 29 -
20-39 47 -
40-59 20 -
60 or over 2 -
Total 100.0 -