Europeans offended most — rape centre

Press, 15 November 1984, Page 19

Europeans offended most — rape centre

PA Wellington Europeans committed 38.09 per cent of the 235 rapes and sexual assaults referred to the Wellington Rape Crisis Centre in the year to September 19, according to figures given to the Statutes Revision Select Committee, which is considering two rape law reform bills.

Maoris and Polynesians were the offenders in 12.98 per cent of the cases, and others accounted for 0.85 per cent The race of the offender was unknown in 48.08 per

cent of the cases. The figures related to 235 incidents of what the centre described as “various forms of rape.” The incidents included rape, sexual assault, incest and child abuse. Europeans represented 61128 per cent of the victims, Maoris and Polynesians 13.19 per. cent, and others 0.42 per cent The race of the victim was unknown in 25.11 per cent of the cases. A “huge majority” of the victims were women. The ratio of men to women was

about 111. The centre said of the 235 incidents, 68.94 per cent were committed by acquaintances or family members. A counsellor with the centre, Brenda Cheyne, told the committee that 71 per cent of rapes were not officially reported. The Statutes Revision Committee was considering the Labour Government’s Rape Law Reform Bill (No 2) and a similar private members’ bill introduced by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay.