‘Shocking’ number of rapes at West Yorkshire Hospitals and too few …
More than 160 sexual assaults were reported to have taken place in or near hospitals in West Yorkshire, according to police figures described as ‘shocking’ and ‘sickening’ by a women’s rights organisation.
A total of 39 rapes and 124 sexual assaults were recorded in hospital settings by West Yorkshire Police[1] from January 2019 to October 2022. Five of the recorded rape offences happened in hospital wards. None of the rape allegations resulted in charges. A total of eight people were charged in relation to sexual assault. None of the hospitals has been named.
The West Yorkshire figures have been described as ‘shocking’ by Dorothea Annison of the Kirklees Women’s Rights Network. She said: “I am shocked that they are so high. Anybody going into hospital, or working there, goes there expecting it to be safe and secure.”
She said the low number of prosecutions was ‘very shocking’. “We are hoping the hospitals and police are taking this seriously.”
Ms Annison has written to West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and her local MP, Jason McCartney, who represents Colne Valley, to raise her concerns.
Kirklees Women’s Rights Network supports the provision of single-sex wards and other facilities to improve women’s safety. The organisation has called for improved security at hospitals as well as better data gathering on sexual assaults.
The extent of rapes and sexual assaults in hospitals across the country is ‘sickening’ according to the Women’s Rights Network which asked dozens of police forces for statistics. It revealed more than 6,500 rapes and sexual assaults had been reported to police between January 2019 and October 2022.
Heather Binning, the founder of Women’s Rights Network, said: “This figure is shocking, but the true number is likely to be far higher as we know that crimes of this nature are notoriously under-reported.”
The local figures were released following a Freedom of Information request to West Yorkshire Police. The Force said some of the offences may have been committed inside or outside the hospital location, such as in a car park.
West Yorkshire Police said: “These figures do not necessarily represent offences which took place in hospital buildings or where the victim was a patient or employee.
“What they do show is recorded crimes where a location identifier ‘hospital’ was used in the crime notes. These identifiers can be very subjective and open to the interpretation of the individual recording of a crime.
“Crimes relating to sexual offences are taken very seriously by West Yorkshire Police. Specially trained officers are responsible for the investigation of these offences and are situated within both District Safeguarding Units and Protective Services (Crime), a specialist department which deals with complex investigations.
“All investigations involving victims of sexual offences, regardless of the age of the person responsible, are dealt with within a multi-agency setting, involving our statutory safeguarding partners. This approach allows not only for an effective investigation but ensures appropriate safeguarding measures are considered for any person deemed to be at risk.
“Over the last five years, there has been an increase in sexual offences recorded, some of which will be as a result of improved crime recording but also due to recent, well-publicised national cases which have given victims the confidence to report crimes knowing that their reports will be taken seriously.
“These offences may have taken place many years before the survivor of abuse feels able to report the matter to the police. Any non-recent reports receive the same level of investigation and response from specialist officers in West Yorkshire Police as recent reports do. Crimes are recorded within the yearly data of the time they get reported however the offence reflects the age of the victim at the time of the offence.
“West Yorkshire Police strives to ensure all victims receive the best possible service and care from all officers and staff. All victims are offered appropriate specialist aftercare support services to ensure they receive support throughout the criminal justice process.”
You can sign up to receive the daily Examiner newsletter. If you can’t see the sign up link below, click here[3]
References
- ^ West Yorkshire Police (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ Moment have-a-go-hero shop worker puts gun-wielding robber in a headlock (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ click here (data.reachplc.com)
References
- ^ West Yorkshire Police (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ Moment have-a-go-hero shop worker puts gun-wielding robber in a headlock (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ click here (data.reachplc.com)
References
- ^ West Yorkshire Police (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ Moment have-a-go-hero shop worker puts gun-wielding robber in a headlock (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ click here (data.reachplc.com)