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March 22 2007; Police rule out drink spiking - the urban
myth rests for a while
Police find no evidence
date- rape drugs were used to stupefy and violate women in Taranaki late last
year:
·
Rape Crisis claimed that 23 women had
reported that they had been drugged and raped
·
Police say only two women complained to
police
·
Neither woman were found to have had drugs
in their system
Lorraine Jans
for the first time: "No comment"!
Darin Haenga of Stratford police says "It doesn't necessarily mean you
have been drugged if you can't remember the night before"
The woman who started the panic,
Lorraine Jans, was "unavailable for comment"
2007-0322 - Taranaki Daily
News - Police rule out any drink spiking in sex complaint cases
2007-0323 - Waikato Times -
No evidence of date rape drug
December 15 2006;
All becomes quiet as the police seek analysis
Taranaki partyers urged to beware as Christmas approached;
Blair Burnett of
Hawera police
says claims from other Police officers about woman being too drunk to
remember incidents are not helping people who need to come forward.
Lyn Humphreys of Taranaki Daily
News reports a story from police profiler Dave Henwood. Henwood
refers to one case in 2003 where a man was found guilty of spiking drinks with
a sedative, and then sexually assaulting eight women.
2006-1215 - One News
- Taranaki partyers urged to beware
2006-1215 - Radio New Zealand -
Women who think they were drug raped need to come forward
2006-1216 - Taranaki Daily News -
Profiler: Rapists drugging people for sex won't stop
December 14 2006;
The media at last ask the question: Is drug rape an urban myth?
A senior
policeman and a criminologist are suggesting that many of the cases we hear
about are not true. Instead of women having their drinks spiked they simply
drink too much alcohol engage in drunken sex and wake up with a guilty
conscience
Andy
King, Head of Auckland's Adult Sexual Assault team: They
sometimes lose control either through alcohol or other means. They suffer
memory loss, possibly have flashes of having sex with people or some sort of
sexual contact with people they weren't aware of or cant remember doing so
and believe because of that loss of control they may have been drugged
Greg Newbold.,
Criminologist and Professor of Sociology at Canterbury University: Random drink spiking and drug rape is an urban myth.
Nearly all of the cases where there are claimed drug rape there are no drugs
found in the blood. It's very rare for drugs to be found in the blood of drug
rape claimants. It's
normally alcohol and they blame drugs on their own stupidity
Kim
McGregor of Rape Crisis disagrees:
"Alcohol is a mind altering drug. They can't make decisions as
easily"
2006-1214 - TV3 News - Drug Rape
(Transcript)
December 14
2006 Rape Crisis report an
"additional 23"!
Publicity has resulted in an additional 23 reported cases to Rape
Crisis. But still only two have
reported to the police
Lyn Humphreys of Taranaki Daily
News runs several stories keeping alive her local "scoop".
She interviews a woman who claims that she was once drug raped. She reports
an email sent by an alleged victim. She makes a further report about "unprecedented numbers
of drug-rapes in Taranaki"
 Rape Crisis spokespeople continue
to express their beliefs. Lorraine Jans believes "there were many more out there who
were too distressed to ask for help".
"the problem may be the tip of the iceberg" Pam Bassett of
Hawera Rape Crisis says the stories are very distressing "I don't
doubt these women are genuine". Andrea Black, Rape Crisis national
spokesperson also says the calls may be just the tip of the iceberg
Lorraine Jans
"may be the tip of the iceberg"
Blair Burnett of
Hawera police says
"while some reports
were undoubtedly true, it is also possible some had had too much alcohol --
which can also caused memory loss -- and were looking for someone or
something to blame" "Just because you can't remember two hours
doesn't mean you've been drug-raped. Some of them may be looking for
something to justify being in that situation. "But I'm sure there are
still some legitimate concerns.".
2006-1214 - Dominion
Post - 23 cases reported
2006-1214 - Newstalk ZB -
Concern about drug-rape figures
2006-1214 - Radio NZ -
Checkpoint - Drug Rape (Transcript)
2006-1214 - Radio New Zealand -
Rape Crisis worried more victims of drug-rape
2006-1214 - Taranaki Daily News -
Drug-rape: this is how it feels
2006-1214 - Taranaki Daily News -
Taranaki sparks drug-rape spike
2006-1214 - Taranaki Daily News -
Woman shares story of drug-rape
2006-1214 - Timaru Herald -
More drug-rapes come to light
2006-1214 - Truth - Nasty Dopes Yobs
use horse drug for rapes
December 12
2006; Lorraine Jans has an explanation
why there are no victims
Grant Coward of New Plymouth police said
"We put a media
release hoping that they would come forward. No one has and we're not sure if
the problem's there or not."
Lorraine Jans provides
explanations for why she thinks women are not reporting the supposed rapes to
the police: "One
of the main reasons might be that the women were confused or could not
remember much "but they know they've been raped
Lorraine Jans
"women may be confused"
A report from The Press
places less emphasis on drink spiking with drugs. It reports Christchurch
police saying that there are growing numbers of young girls "getting
drunk or being drugged and waking up the next day unable to remember if they
were sexually abused". Dr Pippa MacKay, who performs abortions at
Lyndhurst Hospital, said: "There is no doubt that some of the girls tell
us that they got drunk one night and they don't know who they are pregnant to
A letter to the Taranaki Daily News
"commends these brave women for reporting these horrific offences
to agencies"
2006-1212 - NZ Herald -
Ninth woman says she has been drug raped
2006-1212 - Taranaki Daily News -
Drug-rape
2006-1212 - The Press - Girls
'too drunk to remember abuse'
December 9-10,
2006; Problem has still not escaped
the walls of Rape Crisis
"Two more women"
"Few similarities between cases" "Descriptions
vague" "Women unable to remember" "They have woken up in a strange
place, unsure where they are but agonisingly certain they have been sexually
violated."
Grant Coward of New Plymouth Police still calling for women
to come forward
Bruce Robertson of Hospitality
Association reminds staff to watch for unusual behaviour. Stacey
Lamb, a Night Club manager is concerned about negative publicity.
Louise Carroll of Drug Rape Trust says
"incidents were
probably more common than anyone suspected and the crime needed urgent
study"
Lyn Humphreys of Taranaki Daily
News, continues to get comment from Lorraine Jans and Pam Bassett
Lorraine Jans
"drugs may make women appear drunk"
Lorraine Jans and
Pam Bassett of Taranaki Rape Crisis Centres report
"two more" women "report drug rape" "These two are so distressed.
They are really, really traumatised. I don't think they will be going to
police." "Drug -rape
medication could also make them appear drunk."
The Southland Times editorial
refers to the publicity sending "a shudder down the spine of the
nation". It claims that the community is little informed about drug
rape. They report that
scientists at ESR studied 162 samples of possible drug rape cases in last two
years and
found that not one of those had shown any trace of known date-rape drugs.
The cases were thought to be probably alcohol intoxication - if the drinks
were spiked, it was probably with more alcohol.
Meanwhile in Tauranga a nurse has been arrested for stealing a drug -
fentanyl - which can be used recreationally, but is also linked to drug rape
claims.
2006-1209 - NZ Herald -
Drug-rape victims urged to speak up
2006-1209 - Stuff - More report
drug-rape suspicions
2006-1209 - Taranaki Daily News -
Women urged to come forward as drug-rape cases rise
2006-1209 - Timaru Herald -
Two more drug-rape cases reported
2006-1209 - Waikato Times -
Drug rape claims spiral
2006-1209 -
Southland Times - Chemical predations
2006-1210 - NZ Herald - Nurse
arrested over theft of 'date-rape' drug
December 8
2006: peterellis.org.nz first to
express public scepticism
Spokesperson for
peterellis.org, Brian Robinson writes that the news media should consider some deeper
investigation into what appears to be yet another scare story from Lorraine
Jans of the Safer Centre. A good place to start would be Spiked OnLine http://tinyurl.com/y7mx2o for an analysis from Josie
Appleton. ............The article covers the transformation of drug rape
"from urban myth to official fact" and concludes with excellent
advice "We will certainly have to stay vigilant about dodgy
awareness-raising campaigns this Christmas." Our news media could well heed that advice.
2006-1208 - peterellis.org.nz - Dodgy Awareness-raising Campaigns and News
Media Gullibility
December 8
2006; Problem expanding, at least
within the walls of Rape Crisis
Rape Crisis reports more
and more victims. The number varies
depending on who you talk to: "The number in Taranaki is now reported to
be eight". "Another 12 women nationwide have "come
forward" " Thirteen woman around the
country". "The women woke up in unfamiliar surroundings after
allegedly being subjected to often brutal attacks."
Pam Bassett of Hawera Rape Crisis
speaks. "Scary that more possible cases had been brought to
light" "There could be a
range of perpetrators"
"These women have to be incredibly brave". Rape Crisis are concerned women are not
reporting to police.
Taranaki Daily News Jayne Hulbert continues
to get comment from Lorraine Jans:
Lorraine Jans: "Women are all extremely
traumatised" "but helped by the fact they weren't alone"
The police have received
two complaints, and ask others supposedly involved to lay complaints. Grant Coward
rejects suggestions from Lorraine Jans that it is a "gang of men";
Mike Hannah urges women to take care.
Chester Borrows, National MP,
urges any rape survivors to authorise Rape Crisis to release information to
the police.
The Drug Rape Trust offers
advice to "victims" of drink spiking
2006-1208 - Radio New
Zealand - Taranaki police warn people over drug rape
2006-1208 - Taranaki Daily News -
Police urge drug-rape victims to make contact
2006-1208 - Stuff - Drug rape stories
still surfacing after Taranaki incidents
2006-1208 - Stuff - Drug Rape
Trust offers advice to drink spiking victims
2006-1208 - Southland Times -
Spate of alleged drug rapes
2006-1208 - Radio New Zealand - Police
want to hear from complainants
2006-1208 - Radio New Zealand - 8 women
now believed drugged and raped in Taranaki in past week
2006-1208 - Radio New Zealand -
Eight Taranaki women believed drugged, raped in past week
2006-1208 - NZ Herald - Women get
help after string of drug rape incidents
2006-1208 - Radio Live -
Police ask drug rape victims to lay complaints
2006-1208 - Radio New Zealand -
Rape Crisis urges women to report suspected drug-rapes
2006-1208 - One News - Rape victims
urged to talk to police
2006-1208 - Newstalk ZB -
Drug-rape complainants urged to come forward
2006-1208 - National Party -
Drug rape survivors encouraged to come forward
2006-1208 - Radio New Zealand -
Rape Crisis issue warning to women
December 7
2006; Lorraine Jans starts a
panic
The rumour starts in Taranaki, and
the "eye of the storm" appears to be centred about one woman - Lorraine
Jans of the New Plymouth "Safer" (Rape Crisis) Centre.
According to reports sex abuse counsellors ay that seven young women have
been drugged and raped:
Lorraine
Jans
"Possible that the seven
are only the tip of the iceberg"
"A variety of stupefying medications
are in circulation"
"A gang of men could be behind the attacks"
"This is really scary stuff"
"Shocked it is happening in their community"
"It's clear …..that drugs have been used"
"Women are all extremely traumatised"
The police
issue warnings and express concern, but can do
little, because at this stage it's still really only claims from sex abuse
counsellors :
Sue Ashton: "Considering an operation
Grant Coward: "Very concerned"
Gullible
and credulous provincial journalists, Lyn Humphreys and Jayne
Hulbert, spread the rumours creating alarm. Young women
are asked what they feel:
Emily Simpson (21): "feel insecure going out"
Chloe Cresswell (18): "Careful
what you wear- some girls look slutty"
Esther Jury (16): "Shocked - It scares me"
Sophie Hickford: "Stunned - You don't think people are like that"
Other news media pick it
up. An initial rumour that may have
best been expressed "Lorraine Jans tells another story" is
headlined in Taranaki as "Seven women tell of drug rape horror"
. By the time it reaches the Manawatu,
the headlines present the rumour as fact: "Seven Taranaki women
raped". The Waikato Times does better
2006-1207 - Taranaki Daily
News - Seven women tell of drug rape horror
2006-1207 - Taranaki Daily News -
ItMakes.htm
2006-1207 - Stuff - Police
call for Taranaki drug rape victims to come forward
2006-1207 - Manawatu
Standard - Seven Taranaki women raped
2006-1207 - Waikato Times -
Seven rape claims
2006-1207 - Radio NZ - Women asked to
come forward
2006-1207 - Radio NZ - Seven drug rapes
in one week suspected in Taranaki
2006-1207 - Newstalk ZB -
Warnings over drug rapes in Taranaki
2006-1207 - Radio NZ - Two women
drug-tested over rape complaints
2006-1207 - Radio NZ - Police
worried about drug rape reports
2006-1207 - One News - Fears of
Taranaki drug rapist
2006-1207 - Radio Live -
Police Investigate Series Of Drug Rapes
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