Media Storm

1.3 Rape Justice: What happens to the 98%? - with Leyla Hussein and Gina Martin

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Media Storm presented by Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia

Content warning: Rape, sexual violence, FGM

Episode 1.3: Rape Justice: What happens to the 98%? - with Leyla Hussein and Gina Martin

Authorities declined to reveal the true rape conviction figures in a Freedom of Information request by Media Storm, after we discovered that the reported numbers - which hit a record low in 2020 at 1,109 - are over-inflated. It follows Guardian revelations that 98% of rape investigations are dropped by police.

But this is not an exclusively British problem. Judging by public data, US police drop 95% of rape investigations; Swedish 96%; Belgian 94%. So how do you begin to diagnose an issue that is so far-reaching? Media Storm sets off across the pond and back, sits down with national police and prosecution chiefs, and follows an unravelling battle in Parliament, to find out why the overwhelming majority of rapists walk free on our streets. We are also joined in the studio by Dr Leyla Hussein, women's rights activist and founder of Safe Spaces for Black Women, and Gina Martin, writer and the campaigner who made upskirting illegal. We discuss how the mainstream media depicts victims of sexual assault, how male-perpetrated violence litters our pop culture, and discuss the latest reporting on the case of Alice Sebold. 

  • Donate to Dr Leyla Hussein’s Safe Spaces for Black Women: https://www.gofundme.com/f/safe-spaces-for-black-women
  • Subscribe to Gina Martin’s newsletter: https://ginamartin.substack.com/

Speakers (order of appearance):

  • Alison Turkos @alisonturkos
  • Pieke Roelofs @pieke_r www.photoandgrime.com
  • Verity Nevitt @veritynevitt www.thegeminiproject.org
  • Dame Vera Baird, Victim’s Commissioner @VictimsComm
  • Sarah Crew, National Police Chiefs Council @aspsarah_crew
  • Siobhan Blake, Crown Prosecution Service @CPSUK @crownprosecutors
  • Dr Leyla Hussein @LeylaHussein @SafeSpaces4BW
  • Gina Martin @ginamartin

Sources:

  • UK prosecution: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/cps-data-summary-quarter-4-2020-2021
  • UK police charges: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/23/fewer-than-one-in-60-cases-lead-to-charge-in-england-and-wales
  • UK crime survey: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/natureofsexualassaultbyrapeorpenetrationenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2020
  • USA prosecution: https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv19.pdf

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Music by Samfire @soundofsamfire. Artwork by Simba Baylon @simbalenciaga.

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