RCEW comments on the FFLM's response to self-swab "rape kits"

Rape Crisis England & Wales welcome the letter which the Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine have have sent to Student Union Presidents and Officers, in anticipation of new and returning students commencing the 2026/7 academic year.

Sexual violence and abuse blight the lives of students in the UK, particularly women and girls.

A landmark survey[1] of over 50,000 undergraduates conducted by the Office for Students revealed that some 14% had been sexually assaulted since entering higher education, with women being more than twice as likely as men to be victimised.

It’s clear that far more needs to be done to protect and support children and young people affected by sexual violence, abuse and harassment through their educations.

In higher education settings, students have said they want to see:

• Survivor-centred, universally accessible, and trauma-informed reporting and support.
• Collaboration between academic institutions and student unions on policy and decision-making in the short term, and on delivering meaningful culture change in the long term.
• Proven and properly funded action, not short-term campaigns or “quick fixes”.
• Prevention focused on consent, healthy-relationships and active-bystander education.

We support these asks.

We also recognise that rape and sexual abuse are highly traumatic experiences, and that many survivors have understandable concerns about approaching the police, their university or healthcare services. All survivors – no matter who or where they are – can access free, quality-assured and confidential support after rape or sexual abuse. They will be listened to, supported and believed, no matter what they choose to do next.

This can be accessed through:

• The national Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 222 or https://247sexualabusesupport.org.uk/
• Community-based, specialist services like Rape Crisis Centres[2]
• Sexual Assault Referral Centres[3].

We maintain our previously expressed concerns about commercial products such as self-swab “rape kits” being promoted and/or to sold people – particularly students and young people, without an independently established evidence base, appropriate clinical oversight or the forensic safeguards required for criminal justice processes to be effective, should a survivor wish to pursue them.

Our concerns include that:

• A swab cannot prove rape. Detected DNA may indicate that sexual contact or activity took place, but can’t establish the absence of consent, and a finding of no DNA doesn’t mean rape didn’t take place.
• A self-collected swab may not be accepted in court. In a recent ruling[4], the Advertising Standards Authority stated that it had seen no evidence that DNA collected using a self-swab kit had ever been admitted in a rape trial, and that claims suggesting it would be admissible were unsubstantiated and misleading. Evidence collected and stored by a SARC follows recognised forensic standards and is far less vulnerable to these problems.
• Using a kit could damage criminal justice outcomes. Self-swabbing may remove, transfer or contaminate any DNA, potentially affecting a subsequent forensic medical examination which a victim-survivor might need in order to pursue a criminal charge.
• Important opportunities for treatment and evidence collection may be missed. Comprehensive, in-person services which include treatment for injuries, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and - for those who want them - forensic medical examinations to document injuries and collect clothing, blood, urine, toxicology and other evidence – are already available throughout England & Wales free of charge.

The Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine and British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH)[5], the National Police Chief’s Council[6], the Association of Forensic Service Providers[7], the Victim’s Commissioner for England & Wales[8], Victim Support[9], and a wide array of specialist sexual violence and women’s organisations[10] have also expressed concerns about such kits.

We welcome the FFLM’s work in bringing this matter to the attention of student unions and urge the relevant government departments to take action to ensure appropriate awareness raising and health warnings accompany such products.