Cops will no longer ‘automatically’ believe rape victims, says Met chief
BRITAIN’S biggest police force has scrapped its policy of automatically believing all alleged victims of sex crimes after a series of blunders.
The Met will no longer blindly accept complaints but must have an “open mind” when receiving reports, the force’s commissioner Cressida Dick told the Times.
The belief policy was put in place in 2011 to encourage victims to come forward after it emerged cops failed to properly investigate abuse, in particular regarding the Jimmy Savile scandal.
But the Met has since been slammed for placing too much faith in accusers, including a man known only as Nick who claimed there was a Westminster child sex ring.
Ms Dick said she had “rethought” the policy, adding “You start with a completely open mind, absolutely. It is very important to victims to feel that they are going to be believed.
most read in uk news
“Our default position is we are, of course, likely to believe you but we are investigators and we have to investigate.”
Ms Dick also said the police had been criticised for not being open-minded enough and said she wants to “go on raising confidence” in victims to come forward.
She said: “We should treat them with dignity and respect and we should listen to them. We should record what they say. From that moment on we are investigators.”
- GOT a news story? RING us on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]