Rape Crisis England & Wales welcome the national policing position on the use of self-swab ‘rape kits’ in unregulated environments, developed in collaboration with the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Public Protection and the NPCC Lead for Adult Sexual Offences, Chief Constable Sarah Crew.
The NPCC have concluded that the kits are not consistent with trauma-informed, survivor-centred practice, nor do they support effective policing outcomes. This position confirms all of the key concerns which we raised upon first learning of their promotion and sale:
- Admissibility
- Incomplete evidence collection
- Limitations of any findings
- A lack of specialist, trauma-informed, in-person support
- The risks of giving survivors false hope
Rape and sexual abuse are acutely traumatic experiences and every year, thousands of survivors reach out to us for support – very often, for the first time. When they take that first crucial step, they must be believed, and they need access to specialist services which treat them ethically and restore dignity and choice to them.
The NPCC statement rightly identifies that self-swab 'rape kits’ ‘may be detrimental to victims’ wellbeing at a point of acute vulnerability' risks isolating them at a time when professional intervention is most critical, and ‘presents an increased risk for some groups of victims including children and young people, those who are neurodivergent, black and minoritised victims, and LGBTQ+ communities’.
Providing survivors of rape and sexual abuse with accurate, transparent and clear information about their options is critical to that, and fundamental to the concept of informed consent. That’s why we provide the national 247 Support Line for anyone aged 16+ who has experienced rape or sexual abuse at any time in their lives, free of charge. It’s also why our accredited network of Rape Crisis Centres provide specialist emotional support and advocacy to survivors, which is focused on their needs.
The NPCC position reiterates that Sexual Assault Referral Centres and specialist sexual violence services remain the safest, most ethical and most effective route for survivors seeking care, support and the option of preserving evidence after rape and sexual violence, if they choose to do so. We support this position and hope that it will now contribute to careful consideration by government, as to any necessary next steps that are needed to protect survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
This progress also reflects the determination of survivors, journalists, frontline services and many others who raised concerns early, and kept pushing for this issue to be taken seriously.
CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales