UK police ask rape, sexual assault victims for access to their digital devices

Women's rights groups and privacy campaigners in Britain are raising concerns over the new consent forms that ask rape and sexual assault victims for access to their digital devices. The consent forms are being rolled out in England and Wales.

Under the new guidelines published on Monday, the victims are asked to give police permission to download data from their phone, with police warning that prosecutions may not go ahead without the permissions. The move comes after a series of rape and sexual assault cases collapsed in recent years after crucial evidence emerged at the last minute.

The new "informed consent" forms would be used "proportionately and consistently. Police are working with victim groups and others to ensure the approach had "the necessary balance", said Nick Ephgrave, Assistant Commissioner of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC). "We would never want victims to feel that they can't report crimes because of 'intrusion' in their data," Ephgrave further added.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said Monday that the issue was "complex" and police would conduct impact assessments on the forms. "While the disclosure is an important component of the criminal justice system... the police have acknowledged that the use of personal data in criminal investigations is a source of anxiety," he said.