22 March 2023 , 12:02
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A police force has come under fire for posters branding rape and sexual assault as "non emergency" crimes.
Sex crimes were listed alongside anti-social behaviour and road accidents on the poster advertising Kent Police's web page for reporting low-level crimes.
Domestic abuse was also featured on the non-urgent list, prompting furious members of the public to accuse the force of downplaying violent crime which predominantly impacts women and girls.
The force's Maidstone squad stuck the print-out poster on the front door of their police station, with the heading: "The following non-emergency enquiries can be reported online via the Kent Police website."
Rape and sexual assault was listed second from last beneath "compliments and requests", "antisocial behaviour" and fraud.
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Hate crime and missing people were also included on the list of so-called non-emergencies.
A Twitter user posted a picture of the print-out, slating the service as "absolute tools."
The poster was spotted on the front door of Maidstone Police Station, but has since been removed (Google)They said: "Kent Police make this make sense? This just goes to show how done out this country is getting!!
"How can you downplay such a horrific and violent crime? I get it's hard to prove but going about it like this ain't the way. Absolute tools."
The poster, which has since been removed, follows the publication of the Casey Review on Tuesday highlighting a "rotten" culture of misogyny within neighbouring Metropolitan Police.
Baroness Casey's report, which was commissioned following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard, described how the number of rapes reported had surged four-fold in the last 10 years, whilst the force's budget had been effectively cut by 18%..
Kent Police has since said it takes all reports of sexual violence and domestic abuse "extremely seriously", and that the poster had been part of a campaign run to prevent people from calling 999 for crimes which weren't live.
"The poster in question was put up by a member of police staff at the front counter in Maidstone police station but has since been removed and replaced by a poster clarifying our advice about how best to report crimes to us," a force spokesperson said.
Detective Chief Supt Emma Banks, head of protecting vulnerable people at Kent Police, said victims reporting crime were supported "in a number of other ways", often for crimes which are "not in progress and which may have happened in the past".
"Kent Police takes the investigation of domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault extremely seriously and we support victims to come forward and speak to us," said DCS Banks.
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"All reports of rape or sexual assault, made through whatever channel are reviewed by a detective sergeant, and are ultimately overseen by a senior officer as part of a thorough review process aimed at ensuring justice and support for all victims."
Neighbouring force Sussex Police was accused of victim-blaming in 2015 after releasing a posted that said "many sexual assaults could be prevented", urging people to stick together on nights out.
West Yorkshire Police also faced widescale backlash in 2019, after a poster urging the public not to accept drinks and drugs from strangers at parties claimed, "the price you pay could be rape".