Three Metropolitan Police officers are facing prosecution over allegations that they used fake evidence to halt a rape inquiry.And just why would they do that?
Investigators suspect that part of the victim's statement was fabricated to make it appear she had retracted her rape claim, allowing her complaint to be written off as a “no crime” incident.Ah. Targets. Of course…
The apparent aim was to improve the force's clear-up rate for sex offences by reducing the number of unsolved cases left on its books.And just how solid was the original complaint?
Well, there’s the rub:
The case involving the three officers follows a complaint from a woman who made a rape allegation at Walworth police station in May last year.
It is understood that the alleged attack followed a night out drinking with a man she met on the internet. After making her allegation, it is understood she indicated she would be unwilling to assist the police further or testify in court.Sorry, but just what the hell are the police supposed to do here? Why does this woman even bother to report it?
That would have left the incident recorded as a crime but difficult to solve, leaving the Sapphire unit with an undetected rape to add to its figures.But it’s not ‘difficult to solve’. There’s nothing TO solve. It’s difficult to convict, though…
There was no further action over the rape allegation after prosecutors decided the woman would not be a “credible” witness.Shocker, eh?
It is alleged that this “target culture” placed considerable pressure on officers. This pressure is said to have been particularly strong in cases where a victim was unwilling to help bring an offender to justice, which were likely to increase the proportion of undetected rapes unless written off as a “no crime” incident.Thanks, Harriet Harman, Vera Baird and all you other blind, blinkered harridans.
Thanks a lot, for corrupting the justice system in this country to the point where this sort of thing is done…
It is understood investigators have been told that senior officers were determined to improve the unit's clear-up rate by ensuring that more rape complaints resulted in a prosecution, or could be shown to be a “no crime” incident, where a victim retracts a complaint or is proved to have made a false allegation.Senior officers aren’t in the dock, I note…
Well, not for this, anyway!
For obvious reasons I cannot discuss details but years ago Iw as on a jury where the case against a young man was that he raped a young woman. It emerged over the three days that in fact he had chatted her up outside a pub and they had gone their separate ways. Hours later she arrived (very) late home and when her family demanded to know where she'd been for so long and she blubbered she had been raped.
ReplyDeleteCue court case after many police manhours, days of anxiety and mountains of public expense. The result was (as he had got no further than a snog during which he paused apparently to go across the street and vomit) the man was acquitted.
A casual allegation resulted in an astonishing amount of wasted time and effort. I have absolutely no doubt there are genuine cases of rape and no doubt much of it is horrifying -- castration isn't good enough, etc -- but while allegedly-wronged people can make accusations without any concern then I suppose this is the price to be paid.
Police planting evidence, faking evidence and tampering with evidence are such blatant and common events, they are hardly newsworthy anymore.
ReplyDeleteMaking a fresh news story and filling a page, is some warped journo considering circumstances where a politician can be blamed for the evil.
'MTG said...
ReplyDeletePolice planting evidence, faking evidence and tampering with evidence are such blatant and common events, they are hardly newsworthy anymore.
and yet this story is all over the media? do you have any evidence of what you claim? numpty
what the hell are the police supposed to do here?
ReplyDeleteWrite down the witness statement, without any fictional additions.
Investigate what they can, pick out any relevant features which might tally with existing cases.
Then explain briefly why they are unable to progress it, and the target culture will just have to go hang. Sometimes life doesn't obey the "narrative imperative towards closure" i.e. humans like nice tidy endings.
The target culture isn't much of an excuse here, but I'm willing to accept that false clear-ups are, like forced adoptions, something which people engage in because they are being professionally rewarded for the wrong thing.
PC Anon @ 12:35
ReplyDeleteNever a day goes by without an example of police fakery, insane driving, rudeness, bullying, easy target finding, shoplifting, obscene language......*yawn*
And you would be...oh, do let me guess - a scruffy recent recruit with an IQ of 86 and bad attitude?
"... while allegedly-wronged people can make accusations without any concern then I suppose this is the price to be paid."
ReplyDeleteIt's not a price I want to pay. Frankly, it is a dangerous road to be heading down, as more and more people lose confidence in the justice system.
"...some warped journo considering circumstances where a politician can be blamed for the evil."
And yet, politicians - and their lobbyists and advisers - are indeed to blame here. They are setting the tone, the pace, the policy.
"...I'm willing to accept that false clear-ups are, like forced adoptions, something which people engage in because they are being professionally rewarded for the wrong thing."
Indeed.
"Never a day goes by without an example of police fakery, insane driving, rudeness, bullying, easy target finding, shoplifting, obscene language......*yawn* "
Bad news always sells better. 'Police officer did job well and professionally' doesn't make for banner headlines.