Top cop urges rape victims to speak out and likens sex attack shame to BBC drama Apple Tree Yard

RAPE victims were yesterday urged by police to come forward and avoid falling into an “Apple Tree Yard” pit of despair.

More than nine in ten victims of sexual violence know their attackers – like the main character Dr Yvonne Carmichael played by Emily Watson in the BBC1 series who is raped by a work colleague.

Yet only 15 per cent of rape victims report their ordeals.

A senior officer on the Metropolitan Police Sapphire specialist sex crimes unit urged victims to come forward and “end their suffering in silence” as a rape awareness campaign was launched yesterday.

What is hit BBC drama Apple Tree Yard about?

MEMBERS of the British public have been on the edge of their seats since this brand new thriller hit our telly screens.

The highly-anticipated Apple Tree Yard, adapted from Louise Doughty’s bestselling novel, launched on Sunday January 22.

The first episode certainly had an impact – with shocked viewers hitting out at a “harrowing” graphic rape scene.

The plot follows a married woman with children, who starts a secret steamy affair with another man – but he’s also got a partner and kids.

As character Yvonne Carmichael attempts to keep her philandering ways under wraps, her infidelity starts to catch up with her.

Following a life-changing act of violence, her life is flung into the spotlight when she is accused of a brutal crime.

In the acclaimed Apple Tree Yard thriller, genetic scientist Dr Carmichael decides against reporting long-term friend and colleague George Selway – played by Steven Elder – to police after he brutally raped her.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Neil Smithson, who heads a Sapphire unit covering five major London boroughs, said: “Rape victims in real life can avoid suffering in silence like the character Dr Carmichael in the Apple Tree Yard programme.

“It is never too late to come forward and we would urge any victim of a sexual offence to report it to police.

“There is no time limit and we can help victims in all sorts of ways. We are always here to help.”

Just eight per cent of rapes are carried out by strangers with many victims being sexually abused behind closed doors of their homes.

And official figures show one in five women have been raped or sexually assaulted in this country.

According to the Office of National Statistics, 85,000 women are raped every year in England and Wales – one every six minutes – and 12,000 men fall victim to sexual abuse annually.

The Met Police are supporting Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week which is hosting events, campaigns and social media discussions with the hashtag #ItsNotOk.

DCI Smithson, based at Holborn police station, central London, said : “We want people to be aware of where the most likely danger is. We also want victims to come forward as we will listen. It’s not okay to suffer in silence.”

He went on : “The vast majority of rapes happen behind closed doors and are carried out by someone known to the victim.

“In the past there has been a perception that this is not real rape.

“But for us rape is rape and we want to get the message out to victims that we want them to come forward because we will listen.

“Even if it does not fall within the forensic window there are still all sorts of ways we can investigate.

“We had a successful prosecution last year where we never actually found the victim who was attacked but were still able to bring a case from CCTV and a witness.

“Victims should not think about the evidence and leave that to us.”

But just six per cent of rapes reported to police end up in convictions.

PC Charlotte Deans, a Sexual Offences Investigation Techniques (SOIT) officer who deals with victims in special interview suites, said : “We are open minded and honest with victims about the prospect of convictions because you do not want to let anyone down.

Our mission is about empowering victims and making them realise that police can care for them or their children

“But there are still ways we can help people and put in safeguards to protect them.

“We are trying to get people away from the idea that a victim is somehow to blame for wearing a short skirt or having too much to drink.

“Our mission is about empowering victims and making them realise that police can care for them or their children.”

The Apple Tree Yard TV victim fears coming forward because she fears an affair she is having with a mystery stranger will be exposed.

A new private members bill was yesterday introduced in the Commons by Plaid Cyrmu MP Liz Saville Roberts with cross-party support to prevent cross examination of rape victims in court about their sexual history, behaviour or appearance.

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The Bill has been drafted by Harry Fletcher and Claire Waxman of Voice4Victims to coincide with sexual violence awareness week and replicates the Rape Shield Law in the US, Canada and Australia.

Mr Fletcher said : “This would not happen to victims involved in other types of trials. Changes to legislation are needed urgently. The government needs to act now.”

His co-director Ms Waxman added: “This brutal cross examination of rape victims re-traumatises the victim and causes them irreparable harm.”

The awareness campaign is being supported by the Rape Crisis group. Its co-chair Dawn Thomas said: “Whether we’ve experienced sexual violence directly or not, it affects us all and causes untold damage to families, communities and society.

“We all have a responsibility to stand up – this and every week – and send the strong, loud message that it is not OK, not ever.”

Awareness week campaign founder Yehudis Goldsobel added: “We need to put this topic at the forefront of the national conversation and not be afraid of it. Only then can we address prevention and change.

“Anyone who’s been affected by sexual abuse or sexual violence needs to know they are not alone and that action is being taken.

“We also want perpetrators to know it will not be tolerated and we will all speak up about it – the shame lies only with them.

“All forms of sexual abuse and sexual violence are totally unacceptable and we want to get this message across.”



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