AC.2- reasons for unreported crime
FEAR: victims may fear the repercussions of reporting and
incriminating that criminal.
They might worry that the criminal will want revenge on them and
that reporting them will do more harm than good.
Victims may be blackmailed, threatened or manipulated into not
reporting the crime and may be told that if they do choose to, then
harm will come to them and their family.
- Case of Alex Skeel- 22 year old who was abused by his partner
close to death, his partner was the first woman in the uk to be
convicted for coercive and controlling behaviour. Subjected to
numerous physical attacks- hot water- stabbings, denied of
food, emotionally manipulated, and isolated from family. When
police found him he was 10 days away from death.
SHAME: victims may feel ashamed or embarrassed to actually go
through with reporting the crime.
When people feel such shame, especially involving a sexual assault
its common for people to not report it as they don’t want others to
know they were vulnerable at the time or unable to protect or
defend themselves.
Shame can also stem from social constructs like stigmas or lack of
coverage, in particular around male domestic violence.
LACK OF UNDERSTANDING/AWARENESS: if the victim is not aware
they have had a crime committed against them, they won’t bother to
report it.
Victims may also not witness the crime therefore they may not even
seen or noticed the crime against them take place.
FEAR: victims may fear the repercussions of reporting and
incriminating that criminal.
They might worry that the criminal will want revenge on them and
that reporting them will do more harm than good.
Victims may be blackmailed, threatened or manipulated into not
reporting the crime and may be told that if they do choose to, then
harm will come to them and their family.
- Case of Alex Skeel- 22 year old who was abused by his partner
close to death, his partner was the first woman in the uk to be
convicted for coercive and controlling behaviour. Subjected to
numerous physical attacks- hot water- stabbings, denied of
food, emotionally manipulated, and isolated from family. When
police found him he was 10 days away from death.
SHAME: victims may feel ashamed or embarrassed to actually go
through with reporting the crime.
When people feel such shame, especially involving a sexual assault
its common for people to not report it as they don’t want others to
know they were vulnerable at the time or unable to protect or
defend themselves.
Shame can also stem from social constructs like stigmas or lack of
coverage, in particular around male domestic violence.
LACK OF UNDERSTANDING/AWARENESS: if the victim is not aware
they have had a crime committed against them, they won’t bother to
report it.
Victims may also not witness the crime therefore they may not even
seen or noticed the crime against them take place.
