"Rape Victims Being Let Down By Shortage Of Fully Trained Medical Experts" Says BMA Wales

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 29 Jul 2010 - 1:00 PDT

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The BMA in Wales has expressed alarm about the patchy provision of fully trained sexual offence examiners across the UK which contributes to a reduction in rape conviction rates.

Welsh Secretary, Dr Richard Lewis, who holds a postgraduate qualification in forensic and legal medicine and is a practising GP in Maesteg, explained:

"We know that conviction rates for rape in this country are pitifully low. Around 120,000 rapes take place each year in England and Wales and yet last year saw only 2,000 convictions. That's just one conviction for every sixty rapes reported to the police.

"Of course, conviction rates are not the quintessential element of an effective rape strategy - but these figures are shocking, and there is no hiding from that fact".

The role of a forensic medical examiner (FME) is to provide custodial healthcare and forensic assessment at the request of the Police Service to people detained in police custody, as well as to victims and witnesses of crime. Their evidence-gathering, especially with victims of rape and child sexual abuse, can prove crucial in court cases.

And as Dr Lewis explained, "there are insufficient forensic physicians with the necessary skills leading to variation in provision, such that it is not always possible to provide doctors with sufficient experience or suitability for the task", this results in the victims of crime being let down. Moreover, guilty people are walking free.

Libby Jones of New Pathways, an organization which provides dedicated support for rape victims in Wales, said:

"We know there is a postcode lottery for victims of rape in Wales, the Fawcett Society's work on regional conviction rates confirmed as much. The chances of a successful prosecution in rape cases, even when guilt is clear, should not deter victims of rape and sexual assault from coming forward. Sadly, however, all too often it does just that.

"There is a lot that needs to be done to put things right and it needs a multi-agency effort to do so - I am glad that the BMA is supporting a positive and practical way for forensic medical examiners to play their part."

Dr Lewis said: "The BMA has been concerned about the provision of forensic medical services in Wales for some time now, it is a speciality that needs better recognition, support and development. Last month we held a seminar for Forensic Medical Examiners from across Wales to come together and discuss the current and future needs of the service. It was clear that there are many common concerns across the country. The main issue being the inconsistency and patchy provision of services, the other issue was training."

Currently police forces can decide themselves how forensic medical services are provided in their area i.e. by NHS, private organisations, or individual clinicians. As there are four police authority areas in Wales that essentially means four different forensic services.

Chief Constable Dave Whatton, ACPO lead for rape and serious sexual offences, said:

"Early this year Baroness Stern published her review into how public authorities respond to rape complaints, which supports the proposal that the funding and commissioning of forensic medical services for rape and serious sexual offending should be transferred from the police to the NHS. ACPO currently awaits the new coalition government's response to her recommendations.

"ACPO recognises that high levels of training should be provided to professionals in this field and believes that there will be real benefits in improved clinical governance. Good work is already being carried out by outstanding doctors, nurses, and other medical staff in this area, and there are real opportunities to create a proper career structure for experts in this field moving forward.

"Developments need to go hand in hand with the continued roll out of sexual assault referral centres, which deliver immediate and ongoing professional care and support."

Dr Lewis said "We know that there is no quick fix to increasing conviction rates largely due to the differences in every individual case brought forward, but there are positive measures that can be taken - one of the most important would be looking to provide all forensic services through the NHS. This has the potential to develop an all-Wales service backed by universal standards, protocols and standards of training - with a recognised and desirable career structure that would support doctors and other health professional committed to this important clinical area.

"The truth is that, at the moment rapists and other sexual offenders are able to avoid conviction and that needs to be addressed. In our view, rape should be treated with the same professionalism as all other crimes - and have available the medical forensic capacity to deliver the high standards necessary with consistency across Wales.

"The BMA is committed to working with government to reverse a situation which is letting the justice system down and is simply unacceptable".

Source:
British Medical Association