"And always keep a-hold of nurse, for fear of finding something worse": challenging rape myths in the courtroom

Radical reform of the law of rape and the evidential rules surrounding it, changes in police procedures, the setting up of Sexual Assault Referral Centres and many other initiatives to assist victims in England and Wales, whilst entirely worthwhile in themselves, have achieved disappointing results in terms of boosting conviction rates. It is now acknowledged that more needs to be done to tackle the attitudinal problem that exists in society at large as well as in the courtroom with respect to rape cases. Tis article considers the value of judicial directions as one strategy for achieving this goal.