Many thanks to Alex Varley-Winter for this informative piece on Operation Galaxy, an investigation into unsolved rape and serious sexual offences in Hampshire. Ed
Using advances in DNA profiling, Hampshire Constabulary have arrested suspects in an on-going investigation of cold-cases from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, re-analysing DNA evidence dating back to 1980.
The operation has thus far brought potential leads on 14 unsolved ‘stranger rape’ cases, including two arrests for rapes committed in Portsmouth and Basingstoke in 1982.
Police keen for victims to come forward
Detective Inspector Peter Swan has been leading the investigation and hopes that these results will encourage more rape victims in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire to come forward and give evidence to the police.
He said: “One of our motivations in telling you about this is that we’ve received a lot of criticism from victims recently. We want to send the message that we do consider rape a very serious crime and they can expect a professional service from us.
“One of the most difficult things has been tracing and re-approaching some of the victims from up to 30 years ago. We’ve seen a whole range of reactions, but the response has been really positive. We want to extend to past victims all the protection afforded by new methods, so for example, a victim can now give a video statement, so that they do not have to face the stress of making a statement in court.”
Stranger rape investigations
The Forensic Science Service are analysing historic evidence in 40 of the 700 cases reviewed thus far. All of the 40 cases were ‘stranger’ rapes in wider Hampshire in which no suspect was identified.
Police are using new DNA profiling techniques in these cases, hoping to identify suspects that were beyond detection at the time.
In the coming months, twelve full-time detectives and a dedicated forensic scientist will continue to co-operate with the new CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Unit to consider hundreds more cold cases of rape and sexual assault dating from 1980-2005 across the Hampshire region.
Image: micahb37 under CC BY-SA 2.0
