Abstract

Despite extensive research on rape and sexual violence, there exists an important gap in knowledge around older victims. This gap exists in relation to national statistics (the Crime Survey for England and Wales has an upper age limit of 59 for intimate violence), and by both criminologists and gerontologists. This research used an under-utilized method by criminologists—freedom of information requests to police forces. Data were obtained from 45 forces relating to 655 cases of rape and sexual assault by penetration over a five-year period and were analysed in relation to victim and perpetrator age, relationship, location of crime and type of offence. The findings challenge the dominant real-rape stereotypes and have implications for future research, policy and practice.

Highlights

  • There has been a global explosion of literature examining the prevalence, impacts and experiences of sexual violence over the last four decades

  • Around 130 reports are made to the police annually for rape and sexual assault of older victims

  • The overall number of reported offences involving an older victim was low when compared with younger age groups

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Summary

Introduction

There has been a global explosion of literature examining the prevalence, impacts and experiences of sexual violence over the last four decades. This article reports on the quantitative findings of a national mixed-method exploring sexual violence against people aged 60 and over—starting at the age where the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) stops asking It examines the similarities and differences between these findings and the knowledge around rape of younger people and considers these findings in relation to the dominant ‘realrape’ myths and stereotypes. Despite the growing research and policy interest in preventing and addressing sexual violence and an growing interest in abuse of older women (often referred to as ‘elder abuse’), the intersection of sexual violence against older women has been largely ignored This is increasingly important as the world population is rapidly ageing. In the United Kingdom, 10.3 million people are aged 65 or over and this number is projected to increase to over 16 million in the 20 years (Minocha et al 2013)

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