Want to know what the investigation and prosecution of rape and serious sex offences really looks like in the UK today?

In this, the first of two introductory episodes taking us straight to the heart of criminal process, we're in a Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales watching a real-life rape trial; the kind of case heard up and down the country every day.

Tariq* is charged with rape and false imprisonment. It's a case that, according to the mainstream narrative, has little chance of resulting in convictions: one person's word against another's; no forensic evidence; no injuries; delayed report; young, black complainant; a defendant claiming consent and that the allegation was prompted by regret and embarrassment on the complainant's part.

Join me, Dr Candida Saunders, in the public gallery watch real proceedings in a real rape trial.

Let's see for ourselves what really happens.

*To protect the identity of complainants, and all other parties involved in the trial, proceedings are fully and meticulously anonymised.

Topics covered in this episode: Prosecuting counsel's opening speech; vulnerable and intimidated witnesses under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 and the availability and use of special measures; cross-examination of a rape complainant; agreed evidence; admissibility of 999 call; evidence of recent complaint; agreed facts; evidence of the officer in the case and account of the accused's police interview.

A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025).

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If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

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