Rape survivors are often treated as suspects, says watchdog report

Rape survivors are often treated like suspects, according to a new report by the information watchdog – and asked to provide police with medical records, social services files and even hand over their phones.

The regulator described it as a “digital strip search” – and said it was not surprising that so many victims of sexual crimes decided not to go ahead with the legal process at all.

The Home Office say they’re working to improve the police response.