Rape Crisis Network publishes 2015 statistics

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) supported over a thousand people in Ireland last year, according to its annual report for 2015.

According to RCNI’s figures, there were 13,208 Helpline contacts - 76 per cent of which were voice calls - and 15,192 appointments in Rape Crisis Centres for counselling and support (1,384 people) last year.

Clíona Saidléar, executive director of RCNI, said the data “fills a gap in the gathering of accurate and reliable information from survivors of sexual violence who have not reported to any formal authority”.

The report indicates that of those using Rape Crisis Centres, 65 per cent of rape survivors had not reported to any formal authority.

RCNI has also published rape survivors’ feedback on An Garda Síochána for the second year running, with approval from the Garda Commissioner and the Garda Research Unit.

The report shows 69 per cent of those who filed a complaint felt that they were treated in a sensitive manner, that their complaint was taken seriously and the gardaí were attentive, sympathetic and supportive. This is a six point increase from the previous year.

Ms Saidléar said: “We commend the Gardaí’s continued prioritisation and efforts to change culture and practice through specialist roles, and infrastructure, with the establishment of new Regional Protective Services Units, which will deal with a range of sensitive crimes such as sexual violence and domestic violence crimes.

“Leadership within the gardaí continues to be critical to ensure the improvements we would all like to see. As far as levels of contact are concerned, the improvement in satisfaction might be an indicator of the positive effect of the Garda Victim Services Offices, though as far as we know, they were not all yet operational by the end of 2015.

“Having this feedback also means that some requirements to collect data, under the EU Victim’s Directive and the national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender based violence, are being fulfilled.”