0:00:02 > 0:00:07This programme contains some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12I'm investigating a crime that affects an astonishingly high number of people - rape.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15In Britain today, a woman is raped every ten minutes.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19That's six women, every hour of every day.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Yet our conviction rates for this horrific crime are still low.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30According to the British Crime Survey,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33over 15,000 people reported being raped last year.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36But there were just over 1,000 convictions for rape.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39That's a massive difference.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40Why aren't we doing a better job
0:00:40 > 0:00:43of making sure that perpetrators are punished?
0:00:43 > 0:00:46How is our system failing victims so badly?
0:00:49 > 0:00:51'I met with young women who have survived rape,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55'to try and understand what it's like to live through.'
0:00:55 > 0:00:57He had a knife to my throat, and he told me
0:00:57 > 0:01:01if I don't have sex with him, he's going to rape me.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07I discovered that young people are more vulnerable
0:01:07 > 0:01:09because they often lack awareness.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13There are people out there that are doing this
0:01:13 > 0:01:15and don't even realise that they're committing a crime.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18And I confront the people in authority
0:01:18 > 0:01:21who are supposed to be putting rapists behind bars.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Very often, people think it's because we don't believe them,
0:01:24 > 0:01:25but it's not.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29But, ultimately, I confront our own attitudes
0:01:29 > 0:01:34and prejudices about who really is to blame for rape.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Rape is not easy to talk about,
0:01:52 > 0:01:54but it's a problem that's getting worse,
0:01:54 > 0:01:56especially for young people.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02A recent government campaign highlighted the issue.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07- BOY: Stop being weird. - I don't want to.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Stop! Look at her. She doesn't want to!
0:02:16 > 0:02:18I want to find out what's going on.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23I'm going to speak to women who are survivors of rape,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26to try to understand what effect it has on people's lives.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42I'm starting in Aberdeen. I'm meeting Sarah Scott, a young mum,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46who has agreed to speak openly to me about her attack two years ago.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49- Sarah?- Yeah, hi.- I'm Pips.- Hi!
0:02:49 > 0:02:52'She hopes to encourage other women to come forward.'
0:02:55 > 0:02:58It would be nice to be able to let my guard down sometimes.
0:02:58 > 0:03:04To be able to just relax. I haven't relaxed since the day it happened.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07I just want to be the old Sarah, you know?
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Fun, happy, young girl.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20It was Christmas time and, like a lot of young people,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22Sarah and her sister were looking forward
0:03:22 > 0:03:25to celebrating with a big night out.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28But for Sarah, things went terribly wrong.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31It was like any other night.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35I met her at the nightclub. She was already drunk,
0:03:35 > 0:03:39and one of her friends had a VIP table upstairs.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42So there were, like, bottles of vodka on the tables.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45So I got drunk, very, very quickly.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51We all got, kind of, separated throughout the night -
0:03:51 > 0:03:55all of my friends, her flatmates, my sister.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Looking for her sister in the nightclub,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Sarah bumped into a guy who was a casual acquaintance
0:04:02 > 0:04:04and she asked if he could help her.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09He was like, "It's OK, they're at an after-party at my house."
0:04:09 > 0:04:15- So, I didn't doubt it. I had no reason to doubt him.- You knew him?
0:04:15 > 0:04:18I didn't know him well, but why would someone lie about that?
0:04:21 > 0:04:25So, we left the nightclub, and went towards his flat.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31When we got there, you know, he opened the door,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35and it was dark inside, I was like, this is not an after-party.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42He grabbed me by the arms
0:04:42 > 0:04:46and forced me into what, I suppose, was the bedroom.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49There was a dirty, kind of, mattress on the floor,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52and he pushed me onto it.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55He ripped my clothes off, and then raped me, twice.
0:04:57 > 0:05:03I tried SO hard to get away. I just felt powerless.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07He held me down, he punched me, he beat me.
0:05:07 > 0:05:13I just screamed. I kicked him, but I wasn't strong enough.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17He was a lot stronger than I was.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27He left the room, told me if I leave, he'll kill me.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31I had no idea what to do, I was lying in my own blood
0:05:31 > 0:05:35on a mattress, thinking, "What am I going to do?"
0:05:41 > 0:05:43When I couldn't hear anything,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46I crept through to see where he was,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48and I saw him sleeping on the couch.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51That's an image that will never leave my head.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54I'm not sure why, I just see him sleeping on the couch.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Sarah ran out of the flat, wearing just a bloody dressing gown,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05looking for someone to help her.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07I ran past a bed and breakfast,
0:06:07 > 0:06:11there were two men standing outside, smoking cigarettes,
0:06:11 > 0:06:16and I walked up to them, hysterical, "Help me, I've been raped."
0:06:16 > 0:06:21- They just looked at me in disgust. - They didn't help you?
0:06:21 > 0:06:24No, they went back inside.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Alone and exhausted, Sarah collapsed in the street.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Two CID officers found her and brought her into a police station.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45All over my body, there were bruises, from his hands grabbing me.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48I had these little bruises all over me.
0:06:48 > 0:06:55I suffered from quite severe vaginal tearing, black eye, scratches, cuts.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I just remember sitting in the shower,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04just sitting there crying, watching all this blood drip off me.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09The dirt, it just sunk in, what had happened.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11I just wanted to wash.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Then I realised that he was inside of me.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Even to this day, I will never be clean of that. Never.
0:07:25 > 0:07:31Sarah's attacker was arrested that day. He denied raping her.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35I don't know. I just think maybe I can move on with my life more
0:07:35 > 0:07:38if he could just admit that he did this.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40But he put me through all of that
0:07:40 > 0:07:45and I can never forgive someone who did that. I can never.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02Sarah's attacker was found guilty of her rape,
0:08:02 > 0:08:04and sentenced to eight years in prison.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07The fact that her rapist was tried and convicted,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09sadly, makes her case unusual.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14When police investigate a crime,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17they bring their evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20who ultimately decide if the case should go to court.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25But the CPS drops more than half of the rape cases brought to them
0:08:25 > 0:08:26by the police.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Just one in four rape cases originally reported
0:08:29 > 0:08:30actually ends up in court.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33So if you've been raped
0:08:33 > 0:08:37and your case goes to trial, you're one of the very few lucky ones...
0:08:38 > 0:08:41..although, it probably won't feel like it.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45Where would a victim stand?
0:08:45 > 0:08:48The victim would have to come all the way...
0:08:48 > 0:08:52'Hannah Camplin is a legal expert for Rights Of Women.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54'They support victims going through a trial.'
0:08:56 > 0:08:59So, the victim is actually a witness?
0:08:59 > 0:09:05Yes, the victim is the prime witness for the prosecution case,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07so the first witness that they would call.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09OK. Do they... They don't get a lawyer?
0:09:09 > 0:09:14No, the victim has the Crown Prosecution Service
0:09:14 > 0:09:16lawyer to represent them,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18but they don't have a lawyer of their own,
0:09:18 > 0:09:23- if you like.- I cannot imagine, like, you're standing here,
0:09:23 > 0:09:25and you just know that your...
0:09:25 > 0:09:29someone who attacked you is standing there.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32That must feel horrible. Do people find it really tough?
0:09:32 > 0:09:35I think everyone who's given evidence would say
0:09:35 > 0:09:41that they find it... It's not a pleasant experience, at all.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43I think that some people
0:09:43 > 0:09:47would experience an element of satisfaction in actually
0:09:47 > 0:09:49- telling people what happened.- OK.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52But I think it's really, really important to appreciate
0:09:52 > 0:09:55that this can be a difficult process.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59And the best thing to do is to get as much support and advice
0:09:59 > 0:10:05as you can do, before you actually decide to go through this process.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14A victim would be in here, reliving through everything again,
0:10:14 > 0:10:19and people firing questions at you, and questioning what happened,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21and they are doubting what you're saying.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27It must be really difficult.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32'Victims now have the option to testify behind a screen
0:10:32 > 0:10:34'or via video link.'
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Some women choose to face their attacker
0:10:40 > 0:10:43'in court, like Sarah,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46'although she wasn't prepared for the ordeal she then experienced.'
0:10:46 > 0:10:52I was terrified of him. He was a monster, in my mind.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54I just needed to face that fear.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57I really needed to see him,
0:10:57 > 0:11:03and realise that he wasn't this terrifying person. He was pathetic.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06At the end of that, I felt good.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08I felt... I felt good.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12I felt like I had... accomplished something,
0:11:12 > 0:11:18but things changed as soon as the defence stood up.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21You can't prepare yourself for someone accusing you of things
0:11:21 > 0:11:24that you haven't done, when you're not even on trial,
0:11:24 > 0:11:25and no-one stops them.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30No-one objected. No-one said, "This is wrong."
0:11:30 > 0:11:34He accused me of liking it. General things like that.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And it was horrific. It was horrific.
0:11:37 > 0:11:42I thought I was the victim, but at that point, I felt like a criminal.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I asked a senior prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service
0:11:52 > 0:11:56if more could be done to protect victims in court.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58We try and make sure that we do protect them.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02We should also be looking at making sure that the counsel that prosecutes
0:12:02 > 0:12:06the case, and our own advocates, are properly instructed, that they
0:12:06 > 0:12:09are rape specialists, that they do jump up and object
0:12:09 > 0:12:13if the cross-examination is inappropriate.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17The defence has their barrister, someone fighting their corner.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21The victim is a witness. Do you think that actually works properly?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24I think it's the best system that we have got at the moment.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27I think the protections that we've put in help tremendously.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30I still think there are things that we can look at improving,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33but the way in which our system is, for any case,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36not just for rape cases, but for any case,
0:12:36 > 0:12:40it's an adversarial system, where the prosecution presents their case
0:12:40 > 0:12:42and the defence challenge it.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45For some victims, like Sarah,
0:12:45 > 0:12:49the experience of court feels almost like being attacked all over again.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51But despite her anger at how she was treated,
0:12:51 > 0:12:56testifying meant that, ultimately, she saw her attacker convicted.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Me and my sister stayed in the witness room,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02because neither of us could deal with it, if it was bad news.
0:13:02 > 0:13:08Then, about 15 minutes later, my friend and my mum walked through
0:13:08 > 0:13:12and they had big smiles on their faces, and said,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15"Guilty." And I was actually jumping.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19If I could still remember how to do cartwheels, I would have done them.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22They believed me, and that was what was important -
0:13:22 > 0:13:26that people knew that I wasn't lying about this. This happened to me.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31'I think Sarah was incredibly brave to stand up in court
0:13:31 > 0:13:33'and testify against her rapist.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37'But how can our justice system make it easier for more women
0:13:37 > 0:13:38'to testify in court
0:13:38 > 0:13:40'and make sure that more rapists are convicted?'
0:13:58 > 0:14:01I think part of the problem is our attitude to sex.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04# It must be ass Cos it ain't your face
0:14:04 > 0:14:06# I need a tip drill I need a tip trill
0:14:06 > 0:14:08# I said it must be ass Cos it ain't your face... #
0:14:08 > 0:14:13We are bombarded with explicit sexual imagery every day...
0:14:15 > 0:14:20..in ads, magazines, TV, phones, the web.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24A lot of it portrays women as up for sex all the time,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27and men as dominant and in control.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32And pornography is more accessible to young people than ever before.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36One in four boys accesses porn at least once a week.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43Kat Banyard, a feminist writer, thinks it's a serious problem.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45We have boys and girls now
0:14:45 > 0:14:51that are, for the first time in human history, are being raised
0:14:51 > 0:14:55in, pretty much, a pornified culture. And if we look at these images,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59if we look at these films, and so forth,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03we see that sex is portrayed as being about power.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06It's about, a man will take it from a woman,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09he will do it to her, he will give it to her.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12It's not about exchange and communication
0:15:12 > 0:15:14and mutual respect.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22We still have some pretty old-school ideas,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25that if women behave in a certain way, then they're sluts.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28If some men get the wrong idea, then what do they expect?
0:15:28 > 0:15:33A major study showed that we have deep-seated stereotypes
0:15:33 > 0:15:34about rape in our society.
0:15:34 > 0:15:3934% of people thought that a woman was fully, or partially, responsible
0:15:39 > 0:15:42for being raped if she was flirting.
0:15:42 > 0:15:4630% thought a woman was responsible if she was drunk.
0:15:46 > 0:15:5026% thought a woman was responsible
0:15:50 > 0:15:53if she was wearing sexy or revealing clothing.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57It all basically adds up to the idea that, if you get raped,
0:15:57 > 0:15:59it's somehow your fault.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Do you know what really gets me?
0:16:03 > 0:16:06It's that people can still think this way.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09We all go out with our mates, you get dolled up.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12But I just don't understand how people can still think
0:16:12 > 0:16:13you are, somehow, asking for it,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17as though rape just is out there, waiting for you.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19That seems like putting blame on the victim,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22instead of on the perpetrator - the rapist.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25To me, that's just not right.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Most rapes are perpetrated by a small minority of men,
0:16:29 > 0:16:30yet I almost never hear
0:16:30 > 0:16:33anyone asking men what they think about rape.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37So I'm meeting up with a group of young men from a community project
0:16:37 > 0:16:40in London who are willing to talk to me about it.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44'I want to know what they think of the idea
0:16:44 > 0:16:47'that women could bring rape upon themselves.'
0:16:47 > 0:16:49I don't think anyone could ask for that,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52but they could put themselves in a situation
0:16:52 > 0:16:54where it's likely to happen.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58You know, say a girl is dressed in a certain way. You're in a club,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01a girl is coming towards you and, you know,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03you are acting friendly and you're buying drinks
0:17:03 > 0:17:05and everything seems OK,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08and then it gets to a point where a guy could be
0:17:08 > 0:17:12taking that a certain way, thinking, "All systems go."
0:17:12 > 0:17:15- So she's leading someone on? - Leading someone on, basically.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Because someone is leading someone on,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20- do you think that that could end in rape?- It could end,
0:17:20 > 0:17:22but whether it warrants to end in rape,
0:17:22 > 0:17:24I don't think it should.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26But some girls do seem like they want to have sex,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29because of the way they dress and act around boys.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33But they dress like that because they are going out nightclubbing.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Just because someone is wearing a short skirt
0:17:35 > 0:17:37doesn't mean they want action.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40It is the whole thing of how you perceive that person,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43cos sometimes a woman just wants to look good.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47- Some men don't have an understanding of the situation.- At all.- At all.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52Because women will never tell you, "I like you. Let's go upstairs!"
0:17:52 > 0:17:55- LAUGHTER - It don't work like that.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00We're not lucky beans, like that. You know what I'm saying?
0:18:00 > 0:18:05Where J-Lo will come on to us, "No talk, let's go!"
0:18:05 > 0:18:06We have to work.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09We have to read the signs, we have to work it out.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14Obviously, sometimes, guys, I think they jump the gun at times.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17The thing is, it's that kind of attitude and mentality
0:18:17 > 0:18:19which leads to things happening,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23where a girl's put in a situation which has led to rape.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25What can we do about those attitudes?
0:18:25 > 0:18:27How can we stop that from happening?
0:18:27 > 0:18:30You can educate people into making the right decisions,
0:18:30 > 0:18:32which is all about teaching young girls and guys
0:18:32 > 0:18:35about the signs girls MAY give off,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38which may not necessarily mean, "I want this."
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Sometimes, as people,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43we need to understand the damage of the things we cause,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46because by this action, you're damaging a life.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Maybe we need to learn that, as people, to understand
0:18:50 > 0:18:53that we can't do this to people, cos it's more than just one night.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55It is for the rest of their life.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59The guys think there are some grey areas around boundaries
0:18:59 > 0:19:01and signals that need to be worked out.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05But does that mean there is genuine confusion among young people
0:19:05 > 0:19:07about what is and is not OK?
0:19:10 > 0:19:15- Hello.- Hi.- Hiya.- Pips. Nice to meet you.- Come through.- Thank you.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18'I'm meeting Mercy, a young person's adviser
0:19:18 > 0:19:22'at The Havens sexual assault referral centre in East London.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25'She helps hundreds of young people who've been raped
0:19:25 > 0:19:28'or sexually assaulted every year.'
0:19:29 > 0:19:34A lot of young people don't think that oral sex is sex.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37A lot of girls look at me as if to say,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40"Wow, I didn't know that was actually an offence.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43- "I didn't even know oral sex was sex."- Hmm.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46A lot of young people don't think that is a crime or sexual assault.
0:19:46 > 0:19:51There are people out there that are doing this
0:19:51 > 0:19:54and don't even realise that they are committing a crime.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58And there are victims out there that don't even know they are a victim.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03When discussing consent, who is responsible, the boy or the girl?
0:20:03 > 0:20:08I think the boy needs to be asking the girl, "Do you want to have sex?"
0:20:08 > 0:20:11But, again, if she's under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14her yes can mean no, and her no can mean yes.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19You are not in a position to make that choice for her
0:20:19 > 0:20:22and go ahead and have full sex with her. You're not in that position.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Don't have sex with somebody intoxicated with alcohol or under the influence of drugs.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29The Havens carried out research about young people
0:20:29 > 0:20:32and attitudes towards consent, called Where's Your Line?
0:20:32 > 0:20:34and made a film to go with their findings.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Their results were worrying.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40One in ten young men would expect
0:20:40 > 0:20:43someone to have sex with them after kissing.
0:20:45 > 0:20:51Almost one in ten young women have said no to sex, but been ignored.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55More than half of the young adults surveyed say
0:20:55 > 0:20:58they would not be put off sex if their partner was crying.
0:20:58 > 0:20:59It's unbelievable.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08The survey results make me feel like we've got a serious problem,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11and the fact that young people think it's normal
0:21:11 > 0:21:18to...possibly have sex with someone when they are asleep,
0:21:18 > 0:21:20that they think it is normal for a girl to cry during sex.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25They're really shocking statistics. They're really shocking attitudes,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28and I think that we need to do everything that we possibly can
0:21:28 > 0:21:31in order to fight those attitudes.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38So what can be done to help change attitudes to consent
0:21:38 > 0:21:42and understand what is and is not OK when it comes to sex?
0:22:02 > 0:22:04One of the biggest stereotypes
0:22:04 > 0:22:08about rape is that a rapist will be some stranger in a dark alley.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12But, in fact, most women know their attackers.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Things can get even more difficult
0:22:20 > 0:22:22when an attacker is not just someone you know,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24but someone you're in a relationship with.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Today I'm meeting Laura. Several years ago,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36her then-boyfriend agreed to take their relationship slowly,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39and wait until she was ready for them to sleep together.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47One particular night, he decided that he wanted what he wanted,
0:22:47 > 0:22:51and there was no... I didn't really have any say in it.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52Laura is not her real name.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54She's asked us to protect her identity,
0:22:54 > 0:22:58because she's never talked publicly about what happened to her.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06I was watching a film or something, cos I was at his place.
0:23:07 > 0:23:13And I had fallen asleep. I remember waking up, with him
0:23:13 > 0:23:14on top of me.
0:23:14 > 0:23:20And...he raped me. I couldn't believe he had done that.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25I can't believe that it was someone that you knew,
0:23:25 > 0:23:29it's your partner. It's absolutely shocking.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35You can't believe it's happening.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39It feels like it's happening to someone else.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42I remember, after it happened, I left, I went home,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46I'm thinking, "That didn't happen. That didn't happen."
0:23:46 > 0:23:49In the morning, he called me.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- He called you?- He called me.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54PHONE RINGS
0:23:57 > 0:23:59He said, "Are you OK?"
0:23:59 > 0:24:02I said, "No, I'm not. Don't call me."
0:24:02 > 0:24:06He was like, "I'm so sorry." I said, "Just leave me alone."
0:24:11 > 0:24:15I kind of put it away. I put it in a box.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19But it's not something you can bury, because it changes who you are.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22It changes you as a person.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Laura chose not to report the rape
0:24:25 > 0:24:28and tried to cope with the trauma alone.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34- Did you tell any family members? - No. No, I don't...
0:24:36 > 0:24:41This is one of the reasons why I wanted to do this today.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43People's views on things,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46that's what stopped me from telling my family
0:24:46 > 0:24:49and going to the police.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52People have such defined views on what happens to someone
0:24:52 > 0:24:53that is sexually assaulted.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57I was staying at his house, and people will have views,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00"If you was there, what did you expect?"
0:25:00 > 0:25:03If it's a stranger, then it's more acceptable.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07And just having that, there is no way I could go.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09No way. No way.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Cases like Laura's are not rare.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15According to the Rape Crisis Organisation,
0:25:15 > 0:25:18more than one in five rapes are perpetrated
0:25:18 > 0:25:20by a victim's boyfriend or husband.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25A year after her attack, Laura finally got counselling.
0:25:27 > 0:25:28It's not an instant thing,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31it's not something that happens overnight, there's no magic wand.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34But it's a lifesaver.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41I felt really sad for her to have nowhere to go
0:25:41 > 0:25:43because she didn't think people would believe her.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46I can't imagine what that must have been like for her.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51Laura's choice to not report the crime is common.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54In fact, it is estimated that up to 95% of rapes
0:25:54 > 0:25:56in the UK are unreported.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00That could be hundreds of thousands of victims
0:26:00 > 0:26:04who are too ashamed or afraid to even talk about it,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07let alone report it to the police.
0:26:08 > 0:26:13So why are so many victims worried about the police?
0:26:14 > 0:26:18It seems like there has been far too many high-profile reports
0:26:18 > 0:26:21which have criticised police behaviour, and I'm reading here
0:26:21 > 0:26:25that the police haven't been taking victims seriously,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28that rape hasn't been high enough as a priority,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30rape hasn't even been a priority for the police force,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32and that there's even a culture
0:26:32 > 0:26:35of blaming the victim within the police force,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37which is totally unacceptable.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41There have been big efforts
0:26:41 > 0:26:43to improve services in the last ten years,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46including specially-trained officers on every force,
0:26:46 > 0:26:50and sexual-assault referral centres across England and Wales.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Yet still today,
0:26:52 > 0:26:54around half of the incidents of rape reported to police
0:26:54 > 0:26:57don't progress any further.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02Why do you think so many woman don't report rape?
0:27:20 > 0:27:24Today, around half of the incidents of rape that are reported
0:27:24 > 0:27:27to the police don't progress any further.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30There have big efforts to improve services in the last ten years,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33including specially-trained officers on every force
0:27:33 > 0:27:37and sexual assault referral centres across England and Wales.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46One police force in England that has changed how it investigates rape
0:27:46 > 0:27:48is Avon and Somerset.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57- Good afternoon.- Hi, Pips. - DS Roger Doxsey.- Lovely to meet you.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01- Come on through.- Thanks so much for having us.- No problem.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11Operation Blue Stone is a dedicated unit set up in 2009.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13It's improved conviction rates
0:28:13 > 0:28:16and also the numbers of victims seeing cases through to court.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20All the officers here volunteered for the unit.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24They deal with a rape case from reporting to trial,
0:28:24 > 0:28:29which means the victim gets to deal with the same people all the way through the process.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Victims often fear that people won't believe them.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36What would you say to someone who would like to come forward?
0:28:36 > 0:28:38We have to investigate all lines of inquiry.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40But anyone coming in and walking through the door
0:28:40 > 0:28:43and speaking to one of my officers will be believed.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45That's just a given.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49Many people have a perception that there are flaws
0:28:49 > 0:28:55in the system concerning rape cases. Do you feel that in any way?
0:28:55 > 0:28:59I have a very personal view that sometimes the system feels
0:28:59 > 0:29:02more biased towards the perpetrators.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05The pressure often seems all on the victim.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11Reporting a rape will usually involve
0:29:11 > 0:29:14giving detailed statements about the attack,
0:29:14 > 0:29:16answering questions and going through
0:29:16 > 0:29:20a forensic medical examination to build up evidence.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24It's not an easy process for any victim of a traumatic event.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30And, unfortunately, going through that process is no guarantee that
0:29:30 > 0:29:33your case will even get to court.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39'Today, I'm meeting a young woman I'm going to call Natalie.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42'We have to protect her identity for legal reasons.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45'Natalie was subjected to an attack
0:29:45 > 0:29:49'that is becoming more common - a gang rape.'
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Police say sex attacks involving multiple perpetrators
0:29:53 > 0:29:57have increased by around 20% in recent years in London alone.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02In many cases, victims are targeted by guys they know
0:30:02 > 0:30:03and THINK are their friends.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06These crimes are difficult to investigate
0:30:06 > 0:30:09because nobody wants to turn in their own crew.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14Five years ago, when Natalie was just 16,
0:30:14 > 0:30:17some guys from her area started hanging around with her.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19At first they treated her really well.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21I felt very safe around them.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24They would always be there to protect me when I went out to parties
0:30:24 > 0:30:26They would look after me.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30So, yeah, to me it felt like a very good bunch of friends.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Natalie started dating one of them
0:30:34 > 0:30:37and thought it was a group she could trust.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41All except for one, the leader of the group.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45Whatever he said would go, in their eyes.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48Whatever he said to do, they would do it.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51From the first time I met him, I didn't like him,
0:30:51 > 0:30:52I didn't want to be around him.
0:30:54 > 0:30:59One night, Natalie was invited over to her boyfriend's house to listen to music
0:30:59 > 0:31:02and found the whole group there.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Including the guy she was scared of.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Even though I was the only girl and there were five guys there,
0:31:11 > 0:31:13I thought these were my friends
0:31:13 > 0:31:15and I didn't think anything would happen at all.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21But soon the lead guy started talking about being horny
0:31:21 > 0:31:24and making sexual comments towards her.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27I thought, OK, I feel a bit uncomfortable now,
0:31:27 > 0:31:29I'm the only female in the room.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32And then he got out a box of condoms
0:31:32 > 0:31:35and then he started throwing them at me.
0:31:39 > 0:31:44Next minute, he started lighting matches and then throwing them at me.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46- Lit matches?- Yes, lit matches.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51No-one was sticking up for me or saying, "What are you doing?"
0:31:51 > 0:31:53Everyone was sitting there, laughing.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59The lead guy called a couple of the other boys out of the living room.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01Then Natalie was called into a bedroom.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08The guy I thought was scary was telling me
0:32:08 > 0:32:11that I'm supposed to give oral sex.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15And I was like, "What are you talking about? I don't want to do that."
0:32:15 > 0:32:19And he said to me that if I don't it, he was going to stab me.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22So this was when I was thinking, "Oh, my God, what do I do?"
0:32:22 > 0:32:25My friend I was speaking to said he couldn't help me,
0:32:25 > 0:32:28just do what he says or he will stab you.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34Natalie's friend agreed to lie and tell the others she'd given him oral sex.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38But then the lead guy came back into the bedroom.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43He came and sat next to me on the bed.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46I was sitting in the dark on the bed and then...
0:32:46 > 0:32:51he had a knife to my throat and told me if I didn't have sex with him,
0:32:51 > 0:32:53he was going to rape me.
0:32:53 > 0:32:58And...I kind of thought, what am I supposed to do?
0:32:58 > 0:33:03I don't want to say yes and have sex with a stranger I don't even like.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07And I didn't want to say no and then get attacked.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10But I had no choice, I had a knife to my throat.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12So I had sex and was raped by him.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15And then after he had raped me,
0:33:15 > 0:33:19he told the guy I was dating to come in and rape me as well.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21So then he raped me
0:33:21 > 0:33:24and then after that his little brother came in as well.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28It was like they were taking turns with me, basically, one after another.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30I was sore, I just wanted to leave.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33Even after I got raped by his little brother,
0:33:33 > 0:33:37the main perpetrator came in again and basically had round two with me.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43The boys took turns raping Natalie for hours.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47She was only able to get away the next morning
0:33:47 > 0:33:50when her boyfriend's parents came in.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56Later that day, Natalie broke down and told her mum what had happened.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59They went to the police to report the rapes.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Natalie then endured months of anxious waiting
0:34:02 > 0:34:05to face her attackers in court.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07I went to the court, they told me where I was going to sit,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10where the perpetrator was going to sit
0:34:10 > 0:34:12and what was going to go on that day.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14But she never got the chance.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16I think the next day, I got a phone call
0:34:16 > 0:34:21saying that I'm not needed in court any more and that the case had been dropped.
0:34:21 > 0:34:22Why did it get stopped?
0:34:22 > 0:34:25It got dropped because they said there was a lack of evidence
0:34:25 > 0:34:29and there wasn't a high enough percentage of chance
0:34:29 > 0:34:31that I would win the case.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Natalie had to get in touch with the Crown Prosecution Service
0:34:36 > 0:34:39to arrange a meeting to discuss the case.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43It was horrible. They were so cold about it.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45I was angry at this point as well
0:34:45 > 0:34:48because I was trying to tell them how I felt.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51Even if I didn't win the case, at least I would have had
0:34:51 > 0:34:55a step to talk out about what happened and put my point across.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58They were saying they can't see any point in me going
0:34:58 > 0:35:01and putting me through the trauma to then be let down and know
0:35:01 > 0:35:03I'm going to lose the case anyway.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06To me, I've had no closure or justice on the case.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09It felt like I'd been through all that trauma,
0:35:09 > 0:35:14all them statements, all the filming and forensics for no reason.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20Natalie is moving forward with her life, but can't escape
0:35:20 > 0:35:23reminders that her attackers got away with what they did.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26I've seen him quite a few times and he's living life.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29I don't even know if he remembers me, to tell the truth,
0:35:29 > 0:35:32and that's what hurts the most, because I will always remember him.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35But I don't know if he'll even remember me.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42I would like to find out what really goes on in the CPS
0:35:42 > 0:35:47because it sounds like they're not really doing their job.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Or, you know, especially in Natalie's case,
0:35:50 > 0:35:52that they've done the job badly.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58I want some answers about what's going wrong.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02A senior prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service has agreed to meet me.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06Alison, why is it that more cases don't get to court?
0:36:06 > 0:36:08There are a number of reasons.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10We look at all the evidence and decide
0:36:10 > 0:36:12is a conviction is more likely than not?
0:36:12 > 0:36:15Is there a realistic prospect of conviction?
0:36:15 > 0:36:19Very often, people think it's because we don't believe them.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22But it's not. It's we can't demonstrate to the court
0:36:22 > 0:36:26and the jury that there is sufficient evidence there.
0:36:26 > 0:36:31Quite often we find victims decide they don't want to go through the process themselves.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34OK, I met a girl who suffered a horrendous ordeal,
0:36:34 > 0:36:36multi-perpetrator attack.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38She reported to the police,
0:36:38 > 0:36:41went through months of preparation for the trial
0:36:41 > 0:36:44and then the day before she was meant to go into court,
0:36:44 > 0:36:47her case was dropped by the CPS due to lack of evidence.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Why would something like this happen?
0:36:49 > 0:36:51I obviously can't comment on that case,
0:36:51 > 0:36:53because I don't know the particular case.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56But certainly in any case where we're not going ahead,
0:36:56 > 0:36:59we ought to be explaining to the victim
0:36:59 > 0:37:02why we are not going ahead so that she understands.
0:37:04 > 0:37:10The CPS drops more than half the rape cases brought to them by the police.
0:37:10 > 0:37:15Just one in four rape cases originally reported actually ends up in court.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17Natalie is angry at the CPS
0:37:17 > 0:37:20but she still feels reporting her attack was the right thing to do.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23Even though it was traumatising reporting it and going
0:37:23 > 0:37:27through that system, at least I was able to come out and speak about it.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30Because in the long run it's not good to block things up.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32I would encourage other people because there is the chance
0:37:32 > 0:37:36theirs could go further and they could get some justice from it.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Yes, it's always worth taking that chance.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41I really admire Natalie's courage.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44I just hope that more women feel they can go to the police
0:37:44 > 0:37:47and report being raped, like she did.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50How can the police encourage more women to report rape?
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Ultimately, once a rape case comes to court,
0:38:10 > 0:38:13the decision comes down to the ordinary people on a jury,
0:38:13 > 0:38:17and directly reflects how our society thinks about rape.
0:38:24 > 0:38:25Today, I'm meeting Jane,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29a young woman raped by a man she thought she knew well.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32She was staying over at a friend's.
0:38:32 > 0:38:37In the middle of the night, she woke up to find her friend's boyfriend in bed with her.
0:38:42 > 0:38:48I had fallen asleep and woke up and he was behind me, raping me.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55I realised that it had to be him, he was the only male in the house.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59I didn't fight and I didn't retaliate in any way
0:38:59 > 0:39:02because I was so shocked.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06I'd known this man for several years, I trusted him.
0:39:06 > 0:39:11Um...I just...I just froze.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17When he realised Jane was awake, he left the room.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24Jane left and reported the attack to the police almost immediately.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29But she then had to wait 16 months for the trial.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33It was the worst time of my life.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36I would have always said that I was quite a strong person.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40I was very outgoing, sociable, happy person, and I lost that.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43I lost all of that.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46I just was somebody that I didn't even recognise any more.
0:39:48 > 0:39:53The prosecution team didn't meet with Jane until just a week or so before the trial.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55It was all very rushed,
0:39:55 > 0:39:59they always stressed to expect disappointment
0:39:59 > 0:40:04because they very often see it in rape cases where violence was not part of the act.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07But they also on the other hand were telling me
0:40:07 > 0:40:12this is the strongest case, your evidence points towards winning it.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Jane's attacker denied raping her.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26It wasn't until he was actually on the stand that we found out
0:40:26 > 0:40:31what his defence was. And that was basically that he couldn't remember,
0:40:31 > 0:40:32he had no recollection.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34- He was saying he couldn't remember? - Yes.
0:40:34 > 0:40:40So myself and my family were sitting in court looking at each other going, "It doesn't add up."
0:40:40 > 0:40:43You know, people have to see through this.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46How can a jury sit and listen to "I don't remember"?
0:40:46 > 0:40:50And so what if you don't remember? It was never consensual,
0:40:50 > 0:40:53there was never consent there.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55The accused was then asked if he could explain
0:40:55 > 0:40:58the forensic evidence taken from Jane.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03He said he accepted that something must have happened, but he has
0:41:03 > 0:41:09no recollection of what, and that he can assume that it was consensual sex.
0:41:10 > 0:41:15Jane was surprised to see how some members of the jury acted.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19To be honest, a lot of them looked like they didn't want to be there
0:41:19 > 0:41:21and they were bored.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25When the jury were sent out to discuss their verdict
0:41:25 > 0:41:27and come back with the result,
0:41:27 > 0:41:32I think a lot of the lawyers expected them to come back quite quickly.
0:41:32 > 0:41:37His own defence barrister approached my prosecution barrister
0:41:37 > 0:41:41and his words were, "Do these people not know how to spell 'guilty' ?"
0:41:41 > 0:41:45Because he believed that he was not walking free.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50On the second day, without a unanimous verdict,
0:41:50 > 0:41:55the judge asked the jury to reach a majority decision instead.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58- And what was the majority decision? - Not guilty.
0:42:00 > 0:42:05- I can't believe it.- Some people on the jury said he was not guilty.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Numb doesn't even describe it. I can't even put into words how I felt
0:42:08 > 0:42:10when they read that verdict out.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15There was one particular girl in the jury who instantly burst into tears
0:42:15 > 0:42:19and actually turned to me and my family and mouthed the word "sorry".
0:42:20 > 0:42:25Do you have any inclination as to why the jury said not guilty?
0:42:25 > 0:42:31The judge tells them that they have to be 100% certain of the verdict.
0:42:31 > 0:42:36Which in my eyes is just... It's bizarre, it's not right.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40I mean, it's human nature to have doubt and have your own opinions.
0:42:40 > 0:42:45Despite the verdict, Jane is still glad she reported the attack.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49I felt I had done the right thing. And I didn't let him away with it.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53I could have just gone home that night and said nothing.
0:42:53 > 0:42:59I didn't let him ruin me. I don't know how, but, you know, I'm here.
0:42:59 > 0:43:00I survived it, you know.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07The senior prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service I met
0:43:07 > 0:43:12is concerned about the decisions that some juries are reaching in rape trials.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17What we are finding is that the largest single reason
0:43:17 > 0:43:20for cases not succeeding is jury acquittals.
0:43:20 > 0:43:24We know that the majority of cases we are prosecuting now,
0:43:24 > 0:43:27it's young girls, there are drink or drugs involved.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29They know the offender,
0:43:29 > 0:43:32they've either been in a relationship with him or know him,
0:43:32 > 0:43:36so it makes you wonder if that sort of case has an impact on the jury
0:43:36 > 0:43:40and the jury perhaps have misconceptions around some
0:43:40 > 0:43:45of the stereotypes they don't realise they're bringing into the jury room.
0:43:49 > 0:43:54So even if a victim of rape gets past all the hurdles in our justice system
0:43:54 > 0:43:55to have their day in court,
0:43:55 > 0:44:00they still come up against the prejudices we hold about rape in society.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06We seem to focus more on how the victim might have been
0:44:06 > 0:44:09responsible instead of blaming rapists.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15Why is it that so many people are raped,
0:44:15 > 0:44:19but so many perpetrators are not brought to justice?
0:44:19 > 0:44:23Because on the whole, we don't believe women.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26We don't believe this is happening.
0:44:26 > 0:44:31But the reality is that women are being raped on a staggering scale.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34But our heads are stuck in the sand
0:44:34 > 0:44:37and the criminal justice system has got its fingers in its ears,
0:44:37 > 0:44:41it's not listening to women, it's not dealing with the reality.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45It's seen as this natural hazard that women have to be careful of.
0:44:45 > 0:44:47For example, when they are coming home late at night,
0:44:47 > 0:44:49when they've been to the pub,
0:44:49 > 0:44:52they just need to take the necessary precautions
0:44:52 > 0:44:55and if they are responsible, it will be OK.
0:44:55 > 0:44:57As if it's like the weather.
0:44:57 > 0:45:02But we're talking about violent acts done for a purpose,
0:45:02 > 0:45:05you know, people decide to rape,
0:45:05 > 0:45:08they make a choice and they have an intent.
0:45:12 > 0:45:15Rape is not an inevitable force of nature.
0:45:15 > 0:45:17We can improve our systems for dealing with it,
0:45:17 > 0:45:20but how do we stop it happening in the first place?
0:45:40 > 0:45:44Being a victim of rape changes a life for ever,
0:45:44 > 0:45:46but it doesn't have to mean it's ruined.
0:45:46 > 0:45:50Today I'm meeting a young survivor who demonstrates that it's possible
0:45:50 > 0:45:53to move on and even become stronger.
0:45:57 > 0:46:03I've come to Scotland to visit a charity for young survivors of sexual assault.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Hi, Nicole. Hiya, I'm Pip.
0:46:08 > 0:46:12'Nicole Campbell set up SAVI with her mum three years ago.'
0:46:14 > 0:46:16I decided to launch SAVI because when I was 14
0:46:16 > 0:46:19I was actually raped by my friend's dad
0:46:19 > 0:46:23and we found no help at all through the court process,
0:46:23 > 0:46:26especially whilst I was most vulnerable.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28And I really did need some support.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30There was nothing there for me or my family.
0:46:33 > 0:46:36Nicole was raped when she was staying over at her friend's house.
0:46:37 > 0:46:41His dad gave her alcohol and insisted that she stayed the night.
0:46:44 > 0:46:48Basically, just went to sleep and the next thing I know,
0:46:48 > 0:46:53it was like some pressure on me and I felt a bit sore and uncomfortable
0:46:53 > 0:46:57and I just kind of opened my eyes and his dad was, like, there.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00He was like doing it, raping me whilst I was sleeping.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03I was still a virgin at the time as well,
0:47:03 > 0:47:06so that's pretty much how I lost that.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10Nicole was afraid that no-one would believe her,
0:47:10 > 0:47:13but her friends convinced her to tell her parents.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17With their support, she reported the rape to the police.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20But the attack had a terrible effect on her.
0:47:20 > 0:47:24I was using negative coping strategies to deal with things
0:47:24 > 0:47:26because I didn't know the proper way to deal with things.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29I started getting bullied in school as well
0:47:29 > 0:47:32because people said I was lying and that I wanted to sleep with him.
0:47:32 > 0:47:36And that I was a slut and all sorts of things were coming with it.
0:47:36 > 0:47:37That's horrible.
0:47:37 > 0:47:41Then I started cutting myself, I carved "dirty" into the top of my leg
0:47:41 > 0:47:44because that's how I felt. I'd actually done that into my leg.
0:47:47 > 0:47:50Nicole testified against her attacker in court.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55And he was convicted for her rape.
0:47:55 > 0:47:59I want to make sure he couldn't do it anyone else.
0:47:59 > 0:48:01That's why I wanted him put behind bars.
0:48:01 > 0:48:05But really, the worst trauma probably starts after
0:48:05 > 0:48:08because you have no way of dealing with things.
0:48:08 > 0:48:12The only thing I could turn to to block out my feelings were
0:48:12 > 0:48:15alcohol and stuff like that, just anything that was going to
0:48:15 > 0:48:18take me away from feeling the way I did at that time.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22I just really hated myself and didn't care about myself at all.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26It wouldn't have made a difference to me if I was alive or not at that time.
0:48:26 > 0:48:30So what was the turning point for you?
0:48:30 > 0:48:35Basically, I woke up and realised I was letting him win.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37I wasn't prepared to do that.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40I didn't go through everything I went through to make sure
0:48:40 > 0:48:44he got put behind bars, I didn't go through all of that...
0:48:44 > 0:48:45for nothing.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52Nicole sought help to get her own head straight
0:48:52 > 0:48:54and then trained as a counsellor.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57OK, I'll see you at four o'clock on Thursday.
0:48:57 > 0:49:00'The feeling that I got after I'd helped one client, I mean,'
0:49:00 > 0:49:04I was buzzing, I was so hyper after, seeing them going away happy.
0:49:04 > 0:49:08It's a great feeling, so even that continued to help me
0:49:08 > 0:49:13and continued to make me stronger and understand people a lot better.
0:49:13 > 0:49:19Do you have any thoughts on why you think perpetrators may do what they do?
0:49:19 > 0:49:23I think it's control. To then play out their sick fantasies,
0:49:23 > 0:49:26whatever they have in their mind, their sick thoughts.
0:49:26 > 0:49:28It's control and it makes them feel powerful,
0:49:28 > 0:49:31being able to take what they take from this person.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33I've kept my power, I've taken it back.
0:49:33 > 0:49:38And I just want every other victim out there to know that they can do exactly the same.
0:49:38 > 0:49:41No-one has the right to take that away from you, that's yours,
0:49:41 > 0:49:45that's your power, your pride, that's everything you work on, your confidence.
0:49:45 > 0:49:49Don't ever let anyone take that away from you, no matter what happens.
0:49:49 > 0:49:53Don't ever, for one second, think they've won, because they've not.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00Meeting Nicole really affected me.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03I think taking one of the worst things that could happen to you
0:50:03 > 0:50:08and finding a way to make it into something positive takes real courage.
0:50:08 > 0:50:10It gave me a sense of hope for other survivors.
0:50:10 > 0:50:14What can we do to improve support for victims of rape?
0:50:23 > 0:50:26Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd