Some victims may return to the suspect after the event and/or contact them with friendly messages to reduce the risk of being raped again by the perpetrator, or because they want to block out the abuse in order to return to a sense of normality.The body’s response to the trauma of rape can impair a victim’s ability to give a clear and coherent account of the event.Rape is most commonly perpetrated by someone known to the victim.In many cases, there will be no visible sign of injury.Rape remains one of the complex criminal offences we deal with, yet the crime of rape is commonly misunderstood. It occurs in all communities regardless of background and socio-economic factors. It is committed primarily, although not exclusively, by men against women. Rape is a devastating crime which can have a lasting impact on victims, their families and the wider community. Table outlining a range of myths, their implications and how they may be addressed.
