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Alcohol and Remembering Rape: Setting the Scene

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Alcohol and Remembering Rape

Abstract

Victims of rape were often alcohol intoxicated during the attack. Complainant alcohol intoxication negatively impacts case processing at every stage of the legal system. There is no guidance around the world to inform investigators as to how to interview victims and witnesses who were acutely intoxicated when they witnessed the crime. This book reviews the evidence base on the effects of acute alcohol intoxication on remembering rape to inform much-needed guidance on interviewing rape complainants who were alcohol intoxicated during the attack. In this chapter, we set the scene by examining the wider cultural, societal and legal factors pertaining to alcohol-related rape, using England and Wales as a case study.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    It needs to be noted, of course, that the ONS is an imperfect reporting mechanism and as such may only provide a partial picture of sexual violence within England and Wales.

  2. 2.

    In the ONS, the term sexual assault comprises the following offences: rape (Sect. 1 Sexual Offences Act 2003) and assault by penetration (Sect. 2 Sexual Offences Act 2003) unwanted touching (Sect. 3 Sexual Offences Act 2003) and indecent exposure (Sect. 66 Sexual Offences Act 2003).

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  1. School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK

    Heather D. Flowe

  2. Liverpool Law School, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Anna Carline

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  1. Heather D. Flowe
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  1. School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK

    Heather D. Flowe

  2. Liverpool Law School, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Anna Carline

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Flowe, H.D., Carline, A. (2021). Alcohol and Remembering Rape: Setting the Scene. In: Flowe, H.D., Carline, A. (eds) Alcohol and Remembering Rape. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67867-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67867-8_1

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