Three in five rape victims know attacker

30 November 2009

ALMOST three in five people who are raped in North Somerset know their attacker, new statistics have revealed.

The figures for the district outstrip those in Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset, which recorded 50 per cent and 44 per cent respectively.

In more then half of the cases across the Avon and Constabulary force area the offence took place in the home of the assailant or the victim.

Detective Superintendent Arthur Lewis said: "We want people to be aware that this type of rape can happen so that they have the information they need to help keep themselves safe.

"But we also want potential offenders to think about their actions and to know that we will take acquaintance rape very seriously."

So called 'acquaintance rape' is often linked to socialising and in 63 per cent of cases the parties involved have drunk alcohol.

The police have released the new figures, which come from the period April 2008-January 2009, as part of National Rape Awareness week, which runs until Friday.

Acquaintance rape is also the category of rape which sees the highest number of male victims, with 1 in 17 victims being male.

Det Supt Lewis added: "There are no grey areas when it comes to rape. An offender may know his victim or may have spent the evening with them and may be invited back to their home. But if they have sex without consent it is rape."

Between April 2008 and January 2009 there were 86 acquaintance rapes reported to Avon and Somerset Constabulary.