Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 November 2004. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Thursday, 11 November 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of sex abuse victims' satisfaction with their contact with the police. - Including figures and ref to Home Office Research Study 237 Rape and sexual assault of women: the extent and nature of the problem - findings from the British Crime Survey.

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of sex abuse victims' satisfaction with their contact with the police. [196635] Ms Blears: Home Office Research Study 237 "Rape and sexual assault of women: the extent and nature of the problem--findings from the British Crime Survey" reports on the findings of self-completion questionnaires included in the 1998 and 2000 British Crime Surveys (BCS). This report showed that about a third of rape victims (32 per cent.) were "very satisfied" with the way in which the police handled their (most recent) case, and a further quarter (25 per cent.) were "fairly satisfied". However, about a fifth were "very dissatisfied" (22 per cent.), and 16 per cent. were "a bit dissatisfied". The remaining five per cent. said that it was too early to say. Table A7.3 in the report has further detail.

Secondary information