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 The BBC's Stephen Cape"It only takes a few seconds"  real 28k  Professor Sue Lees"The drug is just slipped into her drink"  real 28k |
Drug rape menace growing
Rohypnol is thought to be behind many attacks |
A senior UK police officer has warned of the need for more training to cope with the growing problem of drug-assisted rape.
Detective Inspector Peter Sturman, of the Metropolitan Police, is carrying out research for the Home Office and will deliver a report to ministers next year.
He told the BBC police will need extra training for officers to identify the crime and help victims.
Drug rape support groups estimate about 2,000 women have been the victims of sexual assaults carried out after they had been slipped drugs to incapacitate them.
One of the drugs most commonly used by in such attacks is Rohypnol - a powerful sedative which has now been made illegal without a prescription.
Attacks underreported
One victim welcomed moves to give officers more training in dealing with victims and identifiying drug rape.
Nina Richards, who runs a PR agency in London, says she was raped after a man put a sedative in her drink which was so powerful she did not know what had happened for several days.
She said: "I was so furious that somebody had possibly been so weak that he had to use methods like putting a drug in my drink so that I had no right, I couldn't speak, I couldn't move, I couldn't fight.
"Playing with my mind like that upset me more than the physical side of things."
Police believe the crime is under-reported, as it is notoriously difficult to get a conviction for an offence which usually takes place without witnesses.
Graham Roads, of the Roofie Foundation date-rape support group, said better police training might make more people willing to report the crime.
He said: "It's not neccessarily happened at the bottom, down to the guy at the police desk who first talks to the victim.
"Those are the guys we need to address, they are the ones who need the understanding and the training."
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02 Dec 99 | UK |
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The terror of drug rape |
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15 Sep 99 | UK |
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Film highlights date rape campaign |
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03 Jul 99 | UK |
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Opinion divided on date rape sentences |
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15 Jun 98 | UK |
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Date rape drug ban starts |
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Internet links: |
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Rohypnol: The Date Rape Drug |
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Rohypnol Information Page |
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Metropolitan Police |
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