Police accused of not taking trans rape victim seriously

The victim said she was not initially believed when she reported the rape

A transgender woman raped by her former boyfriend says she feels let down after being told that police will not be pursuing a conviction.

She said it took several years for her to gain the confidence to report what happened.

"He caused me more pain than I've ever known in my life," she added.

The College of Policing said: "All complaints should be taken seriously at the point they are reported."

Conviction rates for sexual offences remain low, at around 6% in England and Wales.

The woman has anonymity for life as a victim of a sexual offence. The BBC is not saying where in the West of England she is from.

She had been dating the man for several months, and one day he became violent.

She said: "I decided I was going to take a bath, and I'd forgotten to take the soap and flannel from the wash hand basin so I leaned forward and as I did he got into the bath with me and forced himself on me.

"It was very painful - I screamed, I tried to get him off me. But he was a lot heavier than I was, and he pinned me down."

She said she wants her story to be told to raise awareness and help others.

She added: "I really don't know what I did to deserve it, but he obviously thought I did. It was probably the worst experience of my life."

After the attack she said she went straight to the nearest police station but couldn't bring herself to go inside.

'Did not believe'

She said: "It was difficult, I stood outside wanting to go in, and I convinced myself that I shouldn't because I wouldn't be believed.

"I am a male to female transgender, and most police don't reckon that males can be raped."

Several years on she finally felt able to report what happened and went into a police station to report it last Christmas.

She said: "It took me a long time to come to terms with my coming out as transgender, and once I felt OK in my own skin I could then approach somebody about it."

But she said the experience at the front desk did not go well. She claims they initially did not believe what she said and she had to repeat it a couple of times.

She said: "They got a female officer to come and see me. I think the only reason they brought somebody in was because I said to them I know you're not going to do anything about this. I think they are a little bit trans-racist"

A few months later she received the news she had feared, that police would not be referring her case to the Crown Prosecution Service. She was told this was due to a lack of evidence.

She said she feels "let down" and it has "set her back".

'A difficult process'

She did not seek help herself, but rape crisis centres are available in Swindon, Gloucester and Bristol and elsewhere around the country, and offer emotional support to survivors of assault.

For those who choose, medical forensic evidence can also be taken without involving police, and stored for up to two years.

Alex Kelly is a Crisis Worker at The Bridge Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Bristol.

She said: "I think it allows for peace of mind and it means you can take your time and really think about what reporting to the police means for you and whether that's something you think would be beneficial for you.

"It can give you time to collect your thoughts and maybe engage with some therapeutic support or other forms of support before entering the police process which can be a difficult process for people."

The College of Policing spokesperson said: "The college's guidelines stress that police officers should reassure the victim that they have done the right thing in coming forward, be non-judgemental and show empathy and sensitivity.