The Centre for Women’s Justice is also launching a legal challenge alongside two alleged victims, arguing the consent form discriminates based on sex, breaches the Data Protection Act and the right to privacy.

Following last year’s news that Metropolitan Police have dropped their policy of automatically believing those who report instances of rape or sexual violence, Katie Russell from Rape Crisis England and Wales told Stylist.co.uk: “We work with victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, rape and all forms of sexual violence. Among the many reasons people we support tell us they don’t pursue criminal justice for what they’ve been through is their fear of not being believed.

“There’s still a widespread myth that people who report sexual offences are more likely to be lying than people who report other kinds of crimes; this is completely untrue but it can stop survivors getting the justice and support they want and deserve.

“If we want to improve criminal justice for the thousands of sexual violence victims and survivors currently failed by the system, we need to think carefully about our messaging and how we can encourage, not deter, reports.”

Images: Unsplash

Rape victims are now asked to give their mobile phones to police - here’s why this is a bad thing