This week, TV presenter Judy Finnigan made a return to TV after quite a few years out of the spotlight.

However, less than a matter of hours into her new role as Loose Women panellist, she was controversially making headlines relating to a very sensitive issue.

It all started when Judy voiced her opinions on whether footballer Ched Evans, a convicted rapist, should be allowed back to play professionally once his time behind bars was complete.

Her view was that after serving his time in prison, he should – since the rape that took place on this occasion ‘wasn’t a particularly violent one’, adding that the victim had been drunk at the time.

Unsurprisingly, Judy’s comments caused an utter furore, and what was essentially an off the cuff remark on a TV opinion show, had people calling for her to quit the show, just a week after she started.

While everyone is entitled to an opinion, to downplay or even trivialise a topic as sensitive as rape, can be horrendously damaging. It is hard not to wonder whether victims who have been through similar ordeals may have read or seen Judy’s words and re-lived their ordeal. Even worse, it may have put off victims reporting a rape if it wasn’t ‘non-violent’.

Society tends to have a view of rape as being someone jumping out of the bushes but in reality it can happen to anyone within every walk of life, even by people you trust or are in a relationship with. Non-violent or not, rape is rape.

To give Judy her due, she has since issued a full apology, which should have brought an end to the matter. But it hasn’t. Some people out there are still angry and have used social media to bring Judy’s daughter Chloe into the situation, threatening the 27-year-old with rape.

Unfortunately, as I have highlighted on this page before - social media is an easy platform for cowards to spread hatred and vitriol behind the comfort of their computer screens, and quite rightly, the police have now got involved,

Rape is one of the most serious and shocking crimes that there can be in society. It’s something that should never be taken lightly or for granted. Around 80,000 women suffer rape or attempted rape every year in the UK, according to the British Crime Survey, while reported cases of male rape seem to be on the increase.

There is much support out there for victims, and one of these is the Dedicated Rape Unit (DRU) based at Cheshire Police Headquarters in Winsford, which was established in 2011.

The team there deal with all live and non-recent allegations of rape within Cheshire with the exception of inter familial child rapes, which are managed within the Public Protection Units (PPU’s). One of the unit’s biggest aims is to make investigations more efficient and provide maximum support for victims.

Allegations of rape are managed carefully, through to compiling evidence for submission to the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that victims of rape are fully supported through this process.

Detective Inspector Clare Coleman who heads the unit at Winsford, says although her role is extremely challenging, it’s also incredibly rewarding.

“I am able to see the positive impact that the team’s dedication, commitment and investigative skills and support has on some of the most vulnerable victims,” she explained. “We work alongside the RASASC (Rape and Sexual Assault Support Centre), who support victims of rape from the day that a report is made to the police, right through to the court process and afterwards.

“RASASC also provides counselling to men, women and young people aged 13 and over who have experienced sexual violence. They provide an excellent service and are a great source of support to victims.”

Officers at the DRU are all highly skilled and experienced in dealing with victims of serious sexual offences and also work closely with St Mary’s SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) in Manchester. The SARC provides a specialist medical and forensic service for those who have been raped or sexually assaulted, as well as giving medical care, forensic examination and sexual health services to women, men, young people and children.

DI Coleman adds: “I can honestly say that working for the DRU is the most rewarding role that I have undertaken so far in my 18 year police career .”

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