// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Victims in rape cases must not feel like they are on trial, Burnham says
Andy Burnham has said the government needs to make sure that victims in rape cases do not feel like they are on trial.
His comments come after Metropolitan Police boss Sir Mark Rowley told the BBC that what he heard reported from Russell Brand's trial came very close to "victim blaming".
The government needs to "constantly look" at how rape trials are conducted to better support alleged victims in court, the prime minister told Times Radio, although BBC News understands there are no plans to change the law around rape trials.
Actor and comedian Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault after a four-week trial in London.
During an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, it was put to Sir Mark that Brand's defence barrister Ian Winter KC "told jurors none of the complainants had in his words 'resisted, screamed or even tried to leave'".
Sir Mark replied: "I think what I've heard reported heads towards, it's getting very close to victim blaming, which is something we've thought very hard about in policing and make sure we don't do."
He said he would support a call from the Victims' Commissioner for a legal duty that would require judges to direct juries on rape myths and misconceptions in every rape trial.
"It shouldn't be possible for inaccurate statements to be made to a jury to suggest that because a rape victim didn't behave in one way that somehow undermines their case," Sir Mark explained.
In a Times Radio interview on Saturday, Burnham said he would "look closely" at the police chief's comments.
He said the government needed to look at how to "make sure they do not leave the woman feeling like she is on trial in court".