According to the Office for National Statistics, police recorded 209,079 sexual offences in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025, while the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that roughly 900,000 people aged 16 and over experienced sexual assault.

There are lots of myths around sexual assault. Myths hurt us all, especially victim-survivors. So, let’s address them:

1.     You must report sexual assault or rape to the police.

FALSE: There is no legal requirement to report your experience to the police if you do not want to. You can still receive support from Rape Crisis or Sexual Assault Referral Centres(SARCS) if you don’t report. These organisations can offer sexual health testing and preventative medication such as the morning after pill and PrEp medication for people who may have been exposed to HIV. They also offer specialist trauma-informed counselling.

Some reasons people might not report to the police:

·      Fear they wouldn’t be believed

·      Mistrust in the police and criminal justice processes

·      Communication barriers

·      Fear of retaliation by the perpetrator(s)

·      They are children

·      They do not have the “bandwidth” or is not in a good place in their mental health

·      They believe too much time has passed and it is now a historic sexual assault

·      The perpetrator is a family member

·      They are worried about the strain it might put on their family or loved ones

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2. You can’t report historic sexual assault or receive support and after care.

FALSE: There is no statute of limitation on sexual assault in the UK, and you can report a sexual assault or rape any time after it has happened. You can also reach out to an organisation such as Rape Crisis or an NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to discuss your situation and explore support options like trauma-informed counselling.

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3.     Forensic Examinations are always internal and performed in cold and clinical settings.

FALSE: In some cases where there is penetration involved, an internal examination may be suggested, however, this is how dependent on various factors such as how long ago the assault took place or whether you wish to preserve forensic samples to pursue the case through the criminal justice system.

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Further information about examinations:

·      An experienced professional will explain what your specific examination will involve before it goes ahead

·      The examinations are carried out by a specially trained doctor, and a crisis worker will stay with you during the examination

·      Children are usually permitted to have a parent or guardian with them during the examination

·      Examination rooms are bright and warm and the staff will make sure you are comfortable

·      The doctor will tell you what they are going to do before they do it, so there are no surprises

·      You will be supported after the examination to ensure you are comfortable, are going home to somewhere safe, and understand what the next steps are. You will be given time to decompress, have a drink, maybe shower if you want to. There is no rush to the process.

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4.     Only women are raped or sexually assaulted.

FALSE: Men and boys are also subjected to rape and sexual assault. In our culture it can be more difficult for men and boys to disclose sexual assault because of strict ideas about masculinity. If you area man who has been raped or sexually assaulted, that does not make you ‘less of a man’.

Men and boys can access any Rape Crisis Centre or SARC. There are also specialist sexual assault services for men, often staffed by highly trained male doctors and staff. You can explore some of these services through the links below:

The Saturn Centre

Survivors UK

Male Survivor Partnership

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5.     Only gay men are raped and only gay men commit rape.

FALSE: Heterosexual men do experience rape and heterosexual men can and do commit sexual offences against other men. In fact, any person can be a victim of sexual assault.

What you can do if you have experienced sexual assault:

·      Contact EQUISS – Our Case Workers can supportyou to understand the processes and your options for support. We will listen toyou and provide an ongoing safe space for you to talk.

·      Contact an organisation such as Rape Crisis or a SARC, where they can provide emotional support and advice through their crisis worker team.

·      Contact the police if you are comfortable doing so.

·      If you are considering reporting a recent assault to police, you can contact Rape Crisis or a SARC for guidance on how to preserve evidence.

·      Speak to a medical professional like your GP or go to accident and emergency (A&E).

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Remember:

·      A victim survivor of sexual assault is never the person at fault and should never be blamed.

·      There are support organisations ready to speak to you and provide support.

·      If you choose to pursue the case through the criminal justice system, there is support available to support you through the whole process.

·      Where you can, make sure you have someone to talk to – this can be a trusted friend, family member or a professional from an organisation.

·      Experiencing sexual assault does not make you less of a person or less of a man.

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EQUISS can help you by:

·      Providing non-judgemental emotional support

·      Explaining and exploring options for reporting or after care

·      Support and advocacy through police and criminal justice processes