Joe, sorry I guested, but I was on a computer I could not login on, and did not want to wait.

There's a piece in the Guardian today, making a number of points.

There is currently a working group on rape policy in the justice system, who were not consulted before the plan, which was not in either manifesto, was brought forward. It had been in place from 1976, but was subsequently repealed.

Several people believe there needs to be research into the number of false accusations - this is not necessarily equal to the number of acquittals. and is beleived by police and solicitors to be extremely rare. Yet the implication of the change is that women frequently lie, and men need protection from this. Such research needs to precede change in the law.

One woman pointed out that the victim has no representation in court, no access to defence documents (thought the defendant has access to documents from the victim), no character witnesses, and is under attack from the defence.

Perhaps if there were changes in these areas, protecting the defendant might be a higher priority. Already women are reluctant to report, and it is seen that this change mught reduce the level again.

I'm trying to get to the page to post a link to the report, but it's being a bit slow.

Penny