Rape Crisis England & Wales are concerned about self-swab ‘rape kits’ being marketed or seen as a way for survivors to seek confirmation that they’ve been assaulted, collect evidence of this, or deter perpetrators.
We understand the frustration many people feel about the prevalence of rape and sexual assault in England and Wales – including on campus. We also understand that the systems in place currently don’t always support survivors in the way that they should.
Although a self-swab kit might seem like a good idea, evidence collection needs to be done in a safe and legally compliant way for it to have most use in criminal trials. There is far more evidence than DNA which is relevant in a situation where a survivor chooses to pursue criminal justice, and which can and should be collected if that’s the right option for her.
More importantly, survivors need specialist, trauma-informed support to help them understand their options in the short, medium and longer term after rape or any form of sexual abuse.
Our concerns
- Any evidence gathered may not be legally admissible. Professional forensic medical examinations happen in forensically cleaned, controlled environments with strict rules to avoid contamination. That’s what helps make evidence reliable. At-home kits can’t offer that level of protection and may give survivors false hope that any evidence they gather could be relied on in a criminal trial.
- Self-swab kits can’t collect all the evidence that might be needed. In the aftermath of sexual assault, there is more than just DNA to consider. A forensic medical examination would include an assessment of injuries, clothing, blood samples, and other medical findings, which can be crucial to any subsequent legal case. Self-swab kits don’t include any of this.
- Even if DNA evidence is gathered, it’s rarely used. Rape trials focus on consent and since the majority of perpetrators claim that any sexual activity was consensual, most evidence is never sent off for forensic testing. Self-swab kits may detect another person’s DNA but this cannot prove that any activity was non-consensual. There is more to a forensic medical examination than a DNA swab.
- They don’t offer specialist, in-person support. Survivors need trauma-informed care, reassurance, and to be heard and believed. A self-swab kit can’t provide emotional support or explain next steps, but a trained support worker in a Rape Crisis centre, or an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) can.
- They may give survivors false hope. These kits are often marketed in ways that suggest the evidence they collect will help in a legal case—but that’s not necessarily true.
We believe every survivor deserves:
- To be heard and believed.
- To be provided with clear and accurate information they can trust.
- Specialist support without pressure or judgement.
- The chance to decide what’s right for them—in their own time and with the right information about their options.
- Free, expert-led medical and forensic care, if they want this.