Helping the Law to Fight for You

One tactic that many people do not think of, is gathering information that will give the police more chance to catch an attacker. Giving an accurate description of an attacker will help the police immensely, the more detail the better. Often if we are attacked we don’t think about the attackers description until the police arrive half an hour later and ask for it. Preferably you need to think about it before you are attacked. Notice people around you and take note of their appearance, if one of them then attacks you, you will have already made a mental note of their description and it is likely to be more detailed and accurate than your observations in the heat of an attack.

The descriptions usually given on TV when the police are looking for a criminal are usually height, build and hair color together with a description of what they were wearing. However, it is more useful to the police if you can remember outstanding features such as scars or tattoo’s these usually allow them to identify a particular individual, whereas a general description of build only allows them to rule out some suspects. A description of clothing worn will usually help them in the short term if they see the attacker before they reach their home, or a friend’s house where they can change. It will also help them to find out which way he went from other witnesses. If the attacker speaks you should notice any sort of accent, it may be local or not local, strong or weak. You should also notice exactly what is said, this may help the police to link different attacks carried out by the same person. You may notice paint on an attackers clothes or hands which may indicate that he has a job as a decorator. If the attacker gets close you may notice certain smells. A smell of oil may indicate that he is a mechanic, you will be able to tell if he does or doesn’t smoke. You may not see the attacker but be able to smell leather, indicating that he has a leather jacket. You may be able to feel they type of clothes he is wearing or whether he is clean-shaven. You may be able to tell whether he is right or left handed in the way he attacks you.

Many criminals will be making a number of attacks. It is estimated that the average rapist attacks seven times before being caught. So any information that you can give the police may be useful. It may allow them to rule out some suspects and so concentrate on others. Even simply the time and place of the attack is useful to the police as this may be able to help them locate where the attacker lives or works, they may be able to tie the time in with when a particular person will be going to or from work. The exact way in which someone attacks or the things they say may be able to link him to other attacks or to give other clues about him. They may be able to build up a psychological profile from the way an attacker behaves. They may be able to deduce that he has had military training from the way he attacks. It will always be your decision as to whether or not to report an attack to the police but don't decide not to report an attack just because you do not think they will have enough evidence to convict him. Even in date rape cases you may find that there have been previous accusations against the man or that once you have made a complaint that other women will come forward and state that he has also raped them.

It is vital that you don’t clean yourself or your clothes after any sort of attack. Do not allow your clothes to be contaminated by touching someone else such as getting a comforting hug. If he has kissed you do not have anything to drink. The police can often get fibers from an attacker’s clothes from you. His hairs, saliva and semen can all conclusively identify him. If he has been convicted in the past then the police will probably have his DNA on file along with his fingerprints.

It may also be possible for you to get some evidence or leave some evidence on him. If you grab his hair you might get some hairs you can give to the police, or you might be able to grab a piece of clothing. If you scratch him you will have skin particles under your nails which will contain his DNA. If you scratch him or otherwise injure him somewhere visible like the face or hands then you will have left a visible mark that will help to identify him. Obviously, actively doing anything to him carries its risks and these have to be weighed up.

If you are attacked in the attackers home or car you may be able to leave some fingerprints or some of your own hair especially if he ties you up or locks you up and leaves you for some time. This will not prove that an attack has taken place but will prove that you were there.