Comparative study of drug assisted rapes and non-drug assisted rapes reported to Surrey police between November 1999 and

1. Comparative study of drug assisted rapes and non-drug assisted rapes reported to Surrey police between November 1999 and November 2004 Miranda Horvath & Jennifer Brown University of Surrey 8th International Investigative Psychology Conference London, 15th – 16th December 2005

2. The Role of Alcohol and Drugs in Rape

3. Context • “Cult of Scepticism” and “Attrition” Kelly, Lovett & Regan (2005) • 30% respondents = woman is partially or totally responsible for being raped if drunkAmnesty International (2005) • 4 in 10 (36%) women sexually assaulted when drunkPortman Group (2005) • Liberalisation of licensing laws in Britain (2005)

4. “Drinking is a real issue…men I suspect think they can get away with rape…they are targeting nightclubs where young girls have been drinking.” Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates Association of Chief Police Officer’s lead on sexual offences Observer, 27th November 2005

5. Prevalence of Alcohol and Drugs in Sexual Assault • College Students in USA – Alcohol involved in 1/3 - ½ - ¾ (e.g. Testa & Parks, 1996) • UK Reported to police: Alcohol in 1/3 Drugs in 1 in 10 (Kelly et al. 2005) • Implications for police and jury response • Focus on victims behaviour before attack • If drinking less likely to be believed (e.g. Lopez, 1992)

6. Effects of Alcohol • Impairs cognitive and motor skills • Ability to engage in higher order cognitive processes • In men – enhance sexual behaviour and aggressiveness • Focus on salient cues in a situation ignore more peripheral information (e.g. Abbey et al. 1999, Hindmarch, et al. 1991; Parks & Miller, 1997; Steele & Josephs, 1990)

7. Aims To identify patterns and characteristics among rapes which have come to police attention in order to distinguish between rapes involving alcohol and those which do not involve alcohol

8. Data • November 1999 – November 2004 • 93 cases victim under influence of drugs or alcohol • 91 cases (random sample) offender charged, victim not under influence drugs or alcohol • Coding dictionary

9. Analysis 1:Alcohol/drug implicated rapes (ADIR) vs. No alcohol/drug implicated rapes (NADIR) • ADIR = alcohol/drugs had been consumed by victim and/or offender = 108 • NADIR = no alcohol/drugs had been consumed by victim or offender = 76

10. Assault Location Percentage of cases Location

11. Victim/Offender Relationships • Majority of victims & offenders knew each other, but significantly more in NADIR (88%) than in ADIR (73%) Relationships (x² p<.05)

12. Victim and Offender Characteristics • Victims, NADIR more likely to be: - Married - Remember being assaulted • Remember after being assaulted • Offenders, NADIR more likely to have come to police attention before • Suspects, ADIR more likely to be unemployed

13. Offence behaviours

14. Analysis 2: Who had consumed the alcohol/drugs • Victim Drunk & Offender Drunk • Victim Drunk & Offender Sober • Victim Sober & Offender Sober • Victim Sober & Offender Drunk

15. Location

16. Did the victim and offender know each other? • X² (3,184) = 11.16 p<.05 • Victim Sober / Offender Sober 88% • Victim Sober / Offender Drunk 80% • Victim Drunk / Offender Drunk 79% • Victim Drunk / Offender Sober 62%

17. Victim / Offender Relationship

18. Victim & Offender Characteristics • Victims: • All sober victims remembered assault & after • Most likely to remember being approached when both parties drunk • Offenders & Suspects • Not possible to distinguish on any characteristics

19. Offence Behaviours More frequent with drunk victim • Victim moved from one location to another • Sexual fondling More frequent with sober victim • Offender Physically restrained victim • Vaginal penetration • Offender masturbated

20. Main findings • Alcohol/drugs most likely to be involved between friends • Inability to distinguish offenders, suspects and victims • Victims state of sobriety / intoxication most significant

21. Future Research • In depth analysis of cases where victim is intoxicated, focusing on: • How victim became intoxicated • What the had consumed • How much they had consumed • Comparison with a larger sample of cases from a different force • Compare reported and unreported cases

22. Selected References • Abbey, A., McAuslan, P., & Ross, L.T. (1998) Sexual assault perpetration by college men: The role of alcohol, misperception of sexual intent, and sexual beliefs and experiences. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 17, 167-195. • Anatomy of a big night out (2005) The Portman Group. Retrieved on 11th October from www.portman-group.org.uk. • Hindmarch, I., Kerr, J. & Sherwood, N. (1991) The effects of alcohol and other drugs on psychomotor performance and cognitive function. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 26, 71-79. • ICM (2005) Sexual assault research. Retrieved on 23rd November 2005 from www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/16618.shtml. • Kelly, L., Lovett, J. & Regan, L. (2005) A gap or a chasm? Attrition in reported rape cases. Hone Office Research Study, 293. London: Home Office. • Lopez, P. (1992) He said…she said…an overview of date rape from commission through prosecution through verdict. Criminal Justice, 13, 275-302. • ‘New drink law spark rapes fears (2005, 27th November) The Observer, p4. • Parks, K.A. & Miller, B.A. (1997) Bar victimisation of women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 509-525. • Steele, C.M. & Josephs, R.A. (1990) Alcohol Myopia: Its prized and dangerous effects. American Psychologist, 45, 921-933. • Testa, M. & Parks, K.A. (1996) The role of women’s alcohol consumption in sexual victimisation. Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 1, 217-234.