• Login
    View Item 
    •   DORA Home
    • Faculty of Business and Law
    • Leicester De Montfort Law School
    • Department of Law
    • View Item
    •   DORA Home
    • Faculty of Business and Law
    • Leicester De Montfort Law School
    • Department of Law
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    A police specialist rape investigation unit: a comparative analysis of performance and victim care

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Main article (228Kb)
    Date
    2019-04
    Author
    Rumney, Phil;
    McPhee, Duncan;
    Fenton, Rachel;
    Williams, Anneleise
    Metadata
    Show attachments and full item record
    Abstract
    This article examines quantitative and qualitative data in an analysis of the workings of a specialist rape investigation unit and compares its performance with a non-specialist investigative approach. This is the first study to examine the work of a specialist rape investigation unit in this way. The research finds that the specialist unit outperformed the non-specialist investigative approach in many, though not all performance measures, including charging and ‘reached court’ rates in rape cases, retention of cases characterised by complex victim vulnerability, allocation of Sexual Assault Investigation Trained (SAIT) officers, rate of referral to Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA) and accuracy of crime recording. Further, police officer interview data suggest that team working and support, communication and a sense of common purpose were distinctive features of the specialist unit, when contrasted to experience of working in a non-specialist policing environment. These findings have policy and resource implications for the policing of rape and the need to achieve the best possible investigative standards in sexual offence cases, including the provision of appropriate care and addressing the needs of highly vulnerable victims. The article concludes by arguing that there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that investigative specialism is a crucial element in the police response to rape.
    Description
    The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version.
    Citation : Rumney, P., McPhee, D., Fenton, R., Williams, A. (2019) A Specialist Rape Investigation Unit: A Comparative Analysis of Performance and Victim Care. Policing and Society, 29,
    URI
    https://www.dora.dmu.ac.uk/handle/2086/17682
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2019.1566329
    ISSN : 1043-9463
    Peer Reviewed : Yes
    Collections
    • Department of Law [646]

    Submission Guide | Reporting Guide | Reporting Tool | DMU Open Access Libguide | Take Down Policy | Connect with DORA
    DMU LIbrary
     

     

    Browse

    All of DORACommunities & CollectionsAuthorsTitlesSubjects/KeywordsResearch InstituteBy Publication DateBy Submission DateThis CollectionAuthorsTitlesSubjects/KeywordsResearch InstituteBy Publication DateBy Submission Date

    My Account

    Login

    Submission Guide | Reporting Guide | Reporting Tool | DMU Open Access Libguide | Take Down Policy | Connect with DORA
    DMU LIbrary