Specialist domestic abuse charity Refuge has responded after one of Britain’s senior police figures allegedly described the bulk of rape complaints as “regretful sex”.
The comments emerged following an investigation by Channel 4 News, with Sir Stephen House subsequently referred to the police watchdog over the allegations.
House was Deputy Commissioner at the time and would soon become Acting Commissioner of the Met Police. He denied the allegations and any wrongdoing, saying he found the term regretful sex “abhorrent” and welcomed an Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation, which has been initiated by current Current Deputy Commissioner Lynne Owens.
The alleged claims were made to Professor Betsy Stanko as part of a major review, launched in 2021 by Home Office, aimed at increasing the number of rape cases making it to court. Stanko told Channel 4 News:
“It felt as if he [Sir Stephen] was trying to minimise what the problem was, not taking it seriously. He used terms to describe – or a term to describe – what he thought the bulk of the rape complaints were, which was the term ‘regretful sex’.”
In a statement to Channel 4 News, House said:
“I have dedicated over four decades of public service to protecting the public from predatory offenders.
I categorically deny using the phrase ‘regretful sex’. These are not words I have ever used in relation to rape or sexual assault and the reason I am so certain that I did not say this is because I simply do not believe it; I find the phrase abhorrent.
I find this characterisation of me to be deeply upsetting, and colleagues who know me know how untrue it is.”
Channel 4 News heard from two other people who were said to have attended the meeting who both asked not to be identified. One told the investigation that he “did not recall” the comments being made. The other confirmed Betsy Stanko’s account.
Ruth Davison, CEO of Refuge, said:
“The comments allegedly made by Sir Stephen House are abhorrent – to allege that the bulk of rape reports are made after ‘regretful sex’ is shameful and should be widely condemned.
I am deeply disappointed that this appears to be the belief a senior Met Police officer felt comfortable expressing, particularly given the numerous failings the force has presided over for victims of sexual assault and rape.
We know that reporting and conviction rates for rape are incredibly low, and Sir Stephen’s remarks will do nothing to improve this, and risk further eroding women’s trust in the police. When this is the attitude at a senior level in the police force, it’s no wonder that women feel unable to come forward to report these crimes, or fear they won’t be believed if they do.
It seems each week a new story emerges which further damages the trust women have in the police. Now is the time for root and branch reform of police forces across the country. They cannot be allowed to continue failing survivors.”
