Attempts to reformulate sexual assault to fit within the limitations and parameters of the general criminal law have been largely unsuccessful. More recently, and because of the tireless efforts of women, the law itself has begun to be reshaped to respect the realities of sexual assault. This is proving to be more successful. It is the most intimate of offences , in a way that even murder is not. There are seldom witnesses.
Victims are often reluctant to go to the police after a sexual assault for a variety of reasons.
Indeed, the statistic that only one in 10 sexual assaults is reported to the police remains constant, despite the many and significant improvements that have been made to the way in which the police and courts handle sexual assault cases. It is not uncommon for women to be unsure themselves about whether or not they are the victims of a crime. This is not necessarily because they have a lack of knowledge about the law, but rather because the context in which the events took place is often complex. There are often no physical injuries and little, if any, forensic evidence. Finally, the perpetrator is often known, and even known very well, to the victim.