Mapping the landscape of male-on-male rape in London: an analysis of cases involving male victims reported between 2005 and 2012
Open accessAbstract
Male-on-male rape remains an under-researched area, and little is known about the characteristics and outcomes of this type of crime. This study examines 122 rape cases involving young adult and adult male victims reported to the London Metropolitan Police Service between 2005 and 2012. Overall, there were a number of similarities with cases involving female victims; however, male cases were more likely to involve strangers, substance use, and a victim with mental health issues, alluding to specific vulnerabilities. Moreover, younger victims, victims with poor mental health, and victims who had consumed alcohol or drugs were less likely to have their cases referred to prosecutors and more likely to be ‘no-crimed’ by police. This paper provides unique insight into the profile and trajectories of male-on-male rape cases, and preliminary recommendations for both police practice and future research are provided.
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Despite divergences in the sample, the general convergence exposed suggests that the phenomenon of male rape commands specific attention as a distinct form of sexual violence, and that support should be constructed in accordance with this recognition.
“However, despite divergences in the sample, the general convergence exposed suggests that the phenomenon of male rape commands specific attention as a distinct form of sexual violence, and that support should be constructed in accordance with this recogni tion”
From “I Didn’t Feel I Was A Victim”: A Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Male-on-male Survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse (2022) · cites this paper as Hine, Murphy, Yesberg et al., 2021
The investigation of offenses involving male survivors has historically repeatedly failed to reach threshold for prosecution.
“the investigation of offenses that, historically, have repeatedly failed to reach threshold for prosecution (Hine, Murphy, Yesberg et al., 2021; Hohl & Stanko, 2015; Murphy et al., 2021).”
From “I Didn’t Feel I Was A Victim”: A Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Male-on-male Survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse (2022) · cites this paper as Hine, Murphy, Yesberg et al., 2021
Men face substantial social and institutional barriers to accessing mental health and criminal justice services.
“Researchers have highlighted how men navigate and make sense of their experiences of sexual violence [1, 2] amid substantial social and institutional barriers to accessing mental health and criminal justice services [3–5].”
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- Authors
- Hine, B. A., Murphy, A. D., Yesberg, J. A., Wunsch, D., Charleton, B., & Widanaralalage Don, B. K. S.
- Affiliations
- University of West London (GB)
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Evidence and Insight team, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, London, UK
- Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (GB)
- School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, London, UK
- Corresponding author
- Hine, Benjamin A.
- Venue
- Police Practice and Research
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2020-11-17
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 109-126
- ISSN
- 1477-271X (ISSN-L)
- 1561-4263
- OpenAlex
- W3095055363
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 3.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- Police Practice and Research (publishedVersion)
- UWL Repository (University of West London) (acceptedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- no funding
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Keywords
- male victims of sexual violence, sexual assault, victim vulnerability, substance use, mental health, victim characteristics, London Metropolitan Police
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