Rape and Indecent Assault

Definitions

Any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of bodily harm, or by means of false representations as to the nature of the act, or, in the case of a married woman, by personating her husband, is guilty of the felony termed “rape”.

Any person who unlawfully and indecently assaults any woman or girl is guilty of a felony termed “Indecent Assault”.

If you are the victim of Rape or Indecent Assault:

• Remember – your main concern must be your personal safety.
• Try your best to stay calm. Keep assessing the situation as it is happening. If one strategy doesn’t work, try another. Possible options are: negotiating, stalling for time, distracting the assailant and fleeing to a safe place, screaming to attract attention or physically resisting.

After an assault:

• Remember, you are the victim. You have nothing to feel guilty or ashamed about. You have the right to get the help you need.
• Go to a safe place and call 933 immediately or head to the Victim Support Unit (VSU) at the nearest Police Station. The sooner you make a report, the greater the chances the suspect may be caught.

Do not wash, change clothes, or clean up in any way until after talking to the police and going to the hospital. Any physical evidence may be valuable to prosecution of the suspect.