Yahoo News “Shame on you": Women hit back after Kent Police listed rape as non-emergency crime
A flurry of women have shared their concern over a Kent police sign that has surfaced on social media. The poster, which was displayed outside Maidstone police station, listed rape and sexual assault as ‘non-emergencies’, claiming these incidents should be reported via an online form instead of calling 999 and other emergency services.
Among the list of crimes also deemed ‘non-emergency’ were domestic abuse, hate crime, anti-social behaviour and missing persons. Respondents have shown their frustration towards the police, asking what kind of message this sends out regarding women’s safety.
“So rape and domestic abuse are classified in the same category as road traffic accidents???? Lovely stuff.” wrote one Twitter user.
Another said: “Shame on you @kent_police how many women do you need to die each week for it to be an emergency?”
Barely able to type for the noise of my internal screaming. @kent_police have just told women that Rape and Domestic Abuse are “non-emergency” crimes and not to bother ringing them in to free up call handlers! No wonder women are dying at the hands of men. For shame! pic.twitter.com/Ehf6tsjECb
— Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) March 22, 2023
The Women's Equality Party wrote on Twitter: “This is what “prioritising ending violence against women and girls” looks like. Policing is broken.”
Kent police have since taken the sign down, replacing it with a poster displaying advice about how best to report crimes to the police. They said it had been part of their Click B4 U Call campaign, which aims to encourage people to use online reporting to free up call handlers.
However, concerns surround the message that the original poster appeared to send out regarding women’s safety.
Catherine Smith, chief executive of the Women's Equality Party, said: “There needs to be a human involved in speaking to the people who experience this. It demonstrates that the police are not prioritising this crime, and it sends a message to women that what happened to them is not something serious.”
One survivor said something needed to be resolved urgently: “As a survivor I can tell you sitting alone while you relive your violation and document the detail on an online form is not the way to report rape. The survivor needs human support, comfort and guidance. Shame on you!”
Another user commented: “Yes because it's not like it's time sensitive or anything to try and get forensic evidence after rape has occurred. Honestly, there wouldn't be so many 'it's your word against his' if they actually TOOK THE PROPER EVIDENCE.”
One more comment questioned: “Is this real??? Are we back to flagging down buses when we are assaulted?” in reference to police suggestions following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer in 2021.
This poster was completely wrong and totally inappropriate. It should never have been put up and was rightly taken down.
Rape and domestic abuse have never been a “non-emergency.” I will always ensure they are treated with the seriousness they deserve. https://t.co/wrbJxlbrq2— Matthew Scott (@matthewinkent) March 22, 2023
Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott described the sign as “completely wrong and totally inappropriate.” In a tweet, he said: “It should never have been put up and was rightly taken down.”
The news comes in the same week that Baroness Casey's year-long investigation into the Metropolitan Police force was published, finding the force to be failing women and accusing it of being institutionally sexist, racist and homophobic.
For more help, you can find your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre here. Or you can find support from charities such as Rape Crisis, Women's Aid, and Victim Support.
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