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 8 th International Investigative Psychology Conference London, 15 th – 16 th December 2005

The Role of Alcohol and Drugs in Rape

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

“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, 27 th November 2005

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)

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)

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

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

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

Assault Location Location Percentage of cases

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

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

Offence behaviours Victim Bound Physically restrain Vaginal penetration Sexual fondling Offender masturbates ADIR NADIR p<.05<.001 <.05

Analysis 2: Who had consumed the alcohol/drugs 1.Victim Drunk & Offender Drunk 2.Victim Drunk & Offender Sober 3.Victim Sober & Offender Sober 4.Victim Sober & Offender Drunk

Location Victim’s home Victim & Offender shared home Other private home Victim Drunk / Offender Sober Victim Drunk / Offender Drunk Victim Sober / Offender Drunk Victim Sober / Offender Sober p<.05<.005<.001

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

Victim / Offender Relationship PartnersEx-partnersFriends Offender DrunkSoberDrunkSoberDrunkSober Victim Drunk Sober p<.005<.05

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

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

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

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

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, Anatomy of a big night out (2005) The Portman Group. Retrieved on 11 th October from Hindmarch, I., Kerr, J. & Sherwood, N. (1991) The effects of alcohol and other drugs on psychomotor performance and cognitive function. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 26, ICM (2005) Sexual assault research. Retrieved on 23 rd November 2005 from 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, ‘New drink law spark rapes fears (2005, 27 th November) The Observer, p4. Parks, K.A. & Miller, B.A. (1997) Bar victimisation of women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, Steele, C.M. & Josephs, R.A. (1990) Alcohol Myopia: Its prized and dangerous effects. American Psychologist, 45, Testa, M. & Parks, K.A. (1996) The role of women’s alcohol consumption in sexual victimisation. Aggression and Violent Behaviour, 1,