ONLY four in 10 rape and sexual assault victims who report their crimes to police would do so again, a damning survey found today.

Researchers warned of a societal culture of victim-blaming and institutionalised racism, with black and ethnic minority survivors, and victims of intimate partner abuse receiving some of the worst treatment.

Some respondents said their lives had been ruined by the police investigation and court process.

Officers were also said to be “routinely trivialising” sexual assaults reported by teenagers, especially if the abuse is connected to their online activity such as use of dating apps.

The End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) said it is “highly concerning to see that rape myths, stereotypes and discrimination remain deeply rooted in policing.”

EVAW director Andrea Simon said that with charging rates for adult rape cases at around 3 per cent, survivors cannot rely on the criminal justice system to prevent their abusers from harming others.

She said: “With only four in 10 saying they would report to the police again in future, it is clear there is a significant loss of trust and access to justice stemming from negative experiences with policing, which should be a national scandal.”

Nearly 3,000 survivors of rape and sexual assault who reported their cases to police in England and Wales in the year to July completed the online survey conducted by academics as part of Operation Soteria.

About six in 10 said their experience with police was worse than they expected, with 73 per cent reporting worsened mental health due to police actions or inactions.

One respondent said: “I live the nightmare not only of the actual assaults, but I’d go so far as to say the police investigation and especially the court case and result, have ruined and takes its toll on my life.

“I battle suicidal thoughts regularly, aggravated by the unjustness of the whole situation. I’m the one with the life sentence.”

Another said: “I am more traumatised by the experience of being investigated for my own rape, than I am by the rape itself.”

Just under half of respondents who withdrew their support for police investigations said they would have continued with the investigation if officers had been more kind and understanding.

The Police Federation has been contacted for comment.