Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jul 2004
Source: Birmingham Post (UK)
Copyright: 2004 Trinity Mirror plc
Contact:  http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/post/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3385

RESEARCH ON DRUG RAPE IS PLANNED

Specialist rape centres in England and Wales are to conduct the first ever 
official research on drug rape, according to reports.

The campaign has been launched to determine how big a threat the problem 
poses after senior police officers pointed out there were no official 
statistics on drug assisted rape.

The research will be carried out by nine rape centres and the results are 
expected to be known next year.

Specialist centres will screen rape cases where it is suspected that drugs 
are involved, or where the victim alleges drugs were used to attack them.

Many campaigns have been launched to tackle the problem where free testing 
kits have been given out to revellers so they can checks their drinks 
during a night out.

Despite several proven cases of spiked drinks being used to drug victims, 
there are no reliable figures to highlight the scale of the offences.

Drug rape victim group the Roofie Foundation says it has received more than 
6,000 calls to its helpline since 1997. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D