In 1984, there were 64 rape crisis centres. In 2008, there were just 36, and those that remain are fighting for their survival.

While lap-dancing clubs continue to spring up all over the place. I think we need to grow some priorities.

An excellent example of how pathetically low domestic abuse and rape falls on our political master’s list of prorities, let’s examine the case of Boris Johnson’s administration in London.

During the election, Boris promised that he would fund the existing London rape crisis centre, and with a pledge to build four more, to the tune of £744,000 a year. This is what the Mayor of London should be doing; London wide solutions to the most serious issues facing the capital.

Post election and women’s issues are being purged; Capital Woman has been shut down, much to the ire of Diane Abbot, and when the Metropolitan Police reveal that while major crime has fallen across the board (knife crime, gun crime, theft) except in the case of rape, which has risen sharply over the past months (up +24.7% on 2007, which translates as an additional 469 cases over 2008), Boris covered the issue up by lauding the Met for their hard work and effort with no mention of the disturbing statistics.

Then came the extraction by Jenny Jones that Boris was not going to fund the rape crisis centres for that sum. Instead, it was going to be cut by £500,000 to £233,000 a year. The additional centres are now, presumably, gone with the wind and leaves the women who suffer in those 2,366 reported cases of rape each year in London with minimalist support.

Brilliant and well-reasoned piece Neil, well done.

“While lap-dancing clubs continue to spring up all over the place. I think we need to grow some priorities.”

There’s more supermarkets too, those fuckers.

Thanks Laurie

[2] This is why I don’t believe official statistics. Is it credible that there were 5 rapes in London last year for every 4 the year before? Human behaviour doesn’t change that quickly.

Still, I look forward to asking Karen Buck – when she comes after my vote – if she’s proud of having supported a government which has abandoned victims of sexual violence whilst promoting lap-dancing clubs…

“While lap-dancing clubs continue to spring up all over the place. I think we need to grow some priorities.”

Those will be your priorities then Paul.

The usual response to anything the PC brigade don’t approve of is to implement a ban and I see the ground has already begun to be prepared.

http://www.object.org.uk/index.html

An excellent, thoughtful and well reasoned article followed by hysterical clap-trap about lap-dancing.

Oh, things were so much better under Queen Victoria.

“An excellent, thoughtful and well reasoned article followed by hysterical clap-trap about lap-dancing.”

Gosh, you think that’s hysterical keep taking the medication. You know it’s just those “wandering testicles” of yours…or was it womb? Whatever.

And supermarkets don’t create objectification of women which is linked in with oh I don’t know – inequality and domestic violence.

Well my local Asda doesn’t anyways.

Check the magazine racks.

This is why I don’t believe official statistics. Is it credible that there were 5 rapes in London last year for every 4 the year before? Human behaviour doesn’t change that quickly.

Put it this way, what credible reason do the police have for artificially inflating reported rape?

[12] Just because more rapes are reported (a good thing) doesn’t mean that any more took place.

It does suggest that the problem is deep and that it needs serious attention, even if the figures are not an actual increase in the numbers of rape. (Just an aside, the raw number increase is an additional 469 rapes in London across the entire year) There is something odd with the Met’s crime mapping though, which (the best version of) can be found here

There is, of course, the question of why more cases are being reported, given there has been no major push.

Regardless, rape does remain a serious problem in the United Kingdom and, in my view (and you are welcome to disagree), an under-represented issue and one which needs tackling.

[14] “The question of why more rapes are being reported…” – I’m sure the criminologists are writing up their grant applications even now…

There is, of course, the question of why more cases are being reported, given there has been no major push.

According to the BCS, 54% of rapes are committed by current or ex partners. Since in the previous year in London, the number of Independent DV Advocates has risen, this may well explain the increase in reported rapes.