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The IPCC have strongly criticised the Metropolitan Police for failing, over four years, to prevent rape suspect Kirk Reid from re-offending. From the Guardian article:
Kirk Reid, 45, a chef and children’s football coach, is serving a life sentence after being convicted of 27 sexual offences, including two of rape, on women on the A24 corridor and near Balham and Tooting underground stations. Police have linked him to a possible 80-100 more sexual assaults between 2001 and 2008.
Horrifying news, especially in the context of the very low conviction rates for rape and sexual assault. Vikram Dodd lists other occurrences of this shameful negligence:
The Met had been breaking its own guidelines, and failing to record reports of rape as a crime. Instead they were classed as “crime-related incidents”. Senior officers say that failing has been put right, but accept that victims were denied a proper investigation.
I will repeat that, as it’s almost unbelievable: the police were failing to record reports of rape as a crime.
Last week the Guardian also reported that important forensic evidence is being missed as rape victims are examined by inexperienced doctors, another factor in the very low conviction rate.
Josephine Grahl
Sharon O'Dea
scarlettmcqueen
