Allegations of rape and sexual assault have been levelled against comedian and actor Russell Brand by four women. The accusations arose from a joint investigation conducted by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches. Alongside the sexual offences, Brand has also been accused of misconduct during his prime, including indecent exposure, engaging in inappropriate sexual banter, and displaying aggressive behaviour.
Brand denies all the allegations. Subsequent to the news surfacing, many have questioned why the victims did not approach the police and instead decided to share their experiences with media outlets. Rosamund Urwin, a journalist from the Sunday Times who was part of the investigative team, explained to the BBC that deciding to share such experiences with the media is not an easy step. For some victims, approaching the media seems a more feasible solution, since the lack of faith in the criminal justice system seems abysmal for many. This skepticism is reinforced by the fact that none of the accusers sought legal recourse from law enforcement at the time of the alleged incidents.
Urwin emphasized that narratives abound concerning women’s lack of trust in the criminal justice system. The victims involved in the allegations against Brand were not compensated in exchange for their stories. ‘Nadia’, one of the complainants, sought help from a rape crisis centre on the same day of her purported assault back in 2012. The joint investigative team confirmed, through her medical records, her visit to the centre.
According to the same documents, an officer from the Los Angeles Police Department was made aware of Nadia’s situation by the centre. However, Nadia refrained from filing a report, as she felt her voice would prove insignificant against Brand’s star power. Caroline Nokes, the Chair of the Commons’ Women and Equalities Committee, states that women who report severe sexual assault are exposed to extreme scrutiny and cultural bias.
High-profile rape cases involving Metropolitan police officers have shaken faith in law enforcement, compelling Nokes to call for women to be encouraged and empowered to report incidents of assault. However, trust in the police hangs in the balance. The Metropolitan Police in particular are making attempts to bridge the gap by liaising with the Sunday Times and Channel 4, ensuring any crime victims they have interviewed are aware of how to report any criminal allegations to authorities.
Approaching law enforcement officials after a traumatic incident can be intimidating, according to Michaela-Clare Addison, national sexual violence lead at the charity Victim Support. Victims are subjected to intimate examination and may be asked to divulge a lot of personal information, including counselling notes and phone records. As such, they often feel that they are the ones under investigation.
Jayne Butler, the chief executive of the charity Rape Crisis, believes that it is important to report crimes to the police. However, she also acknowledges that victims are not responsible for the future actions of the alleged perpetrator. Severe sexual offences, Butler notes, took the longest time on record to be resolved in Crown Courts in England and Wales, according to a 2021 BBC investigation. An average case lasts up to nine months.
The National Police Chiefs Council asserts that every police force in England and Wales is committed to Operation Soteria. This initiative aims to transform how rape and sexual offenses are investigated, encouraging victims to file reports with law enforcement or to consult with independent specialist services such as sexual assault referral centers.
The Sunday Times revealed that some of Brand’s alleged victims decided to speak out, spurred by his recent rise as an online wellness influencer. One victim, ‘Alice’, alleges that Brand sexually assaulted her when she was just 16. She has been surprised by the impact of her story, noting that many people have either related to it or been appalled by it. Despite the negativity, she hopes that discussions can lead to enhanced protection for others in the future.
Addison from Victim Support believes that sharing stories with the media can sometimes be the only way victims can make their voices heard. However, featuring allegations of sexual assault in the media does come with its own challenges, amongst which is the potential for online criticism and scrutiny. Such reporting, it is argued by Butler of Rape Crisis, should always prioritize care and concern for the victims and others who may have experienced similar trauma.