The female police officer then tried to convince her to drop the matter, reminding her the rapist had apologised. She said Lena should consider the “impact on his future”, and informing Lena that they normally deal with “much more serious cases”, Lena says.
Many women don’t report a rape because they fear a harrowing process and a long wait for court, says Carolyn Worth, spokesperson for the Centre Against Sexual Assault Forum. But for others, reporting is fundamental to their recovery.
Lena’s mental health disintegrated in the wake of the alleged rape. But every mental health service she approached had at least an eight-week wait for an appointment.
