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Don’t Take Your Bath Before Reporting Rape Cases – Ghana Police Advises
The Ghana Police Service has advised victims of sexual violence to report straight to the police station without taking their bath in order not to alter evidence that might be helpful in the prosecution of the case.
There is currently an outrage across the world following the death of 19-year old activist, Oluwatoyin Salau whose body was found on June 15, in Tallahassee, Florida after being declared missing for a week.
This situation has caused many girls, especially, on twitter to voice out their horrifying sexual assault experiences and exposing men who have attempted rape on them.
Records from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service (DOVVSU) show that the country gets an average of 15,000 domestic violence cases, 1000 cases of defilement and 300 rape cases in the last decade.
The Ghana Police Service in its duty to protect citizens from every form of harassment have advised on how to help law enforcers bring rapists to book.
Speaking to Pulse Ghana, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Head – Public Affairs Unit/Accra Region, Effia Tenge said, “rape needs to be reported immediately the incident happens. One thing is that people do not want to keep the ‘nasty thing’ on them. So, it needs to be reported for the doctor to examine you so you can go and have your bath and freshen up from that unfortunate incident.”
“Once you come, we give you what we call a medical form. Then you are made to go to the nearest public hospital for a doctor to examine you and give you a report which you have to bring back,” she added.
“You don’t need to take your bath after a rape incident. It is very important in gathering evidence for prosecution.
Also, bring anything that will be necessary for our investigation. Things that came about in the cause of the struggle or the cause of sexual activity. The police will add them to our investigation,” she advised.
