Filenews 16 March 2022 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
The way rape allegations were investigated changed following the case of the 19-year-old British woman who reported her gang rape by Israelis, was convicted of a false accusation and was eventually acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
The Police after this case, which was investigated by a male sergeant and the ugly development it had, reviewed her practice and with a new police order stipulated that rape cases are now being investigated only by women. The new order was issued last October, a month after the British woman filed an appeal that had a positive outcome after she was acquitted by the Supreme Court, which left clear spikes for the police's handling. Following the new police provision, female members of the violence teams in the family of the provincial ICF received special training on how to handle such incidents.
The testimony from the victim, as the police spokesman Christos Andreou told "F", will now be taken by a member of the Same-Sex Police. Also, according to the new police provision, a detailed statement should be taken in which all the incidents that took place as well as the smallest detail should be recorded, since it can be fatal for the offender.
In case the victim is under the age of 14, then according to Mr. Andreou, the testimony received must be videotaped, while if this is required, the same will be done when the complainant is under 17 years of age. The same police provision states that the scene where the rape was committed should be immediately cut off so as not to lose or alter evidence and be thoroughly examined. It is also foreseen, as Mr. Andreou added, for the victim to undergo a forensic examination immediately in the presence of a member of the Police of the same sex.
In an effort not to waste valuable time, instructions are given as these cases are immediately registered in the Courts and to ask for their short trial, while at the same time to provide psychological support to the victim and if required for safety purposes, to move to a special place. Finally, as the police spokesman mentioned, these cases should be handled by qualified personnel who receive special training.
Meanwhile, after the escapes of prisoners from police detention centres, on the instructions of the Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou, a course on measures to prevent escapes from police detention centres, to members of the Police, in all provinces, which are handled by detainees, began at the Police Academy. The purpose of the trainings is the further training of police officers who come into contact with detainees, in particular on issues of safety and their proper handling.
