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Trent Barton Press Statement after Passenger Raped after being kicked off Bus.
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MattRobinson
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If she had have been let on the bus, and someone else had been raped instead, would it still be the fault of the bus driver?
12CSVT
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The only person in this incident who acted with malice was the rapist.
The bus driver was simply doing what he was employed to do, and in my view didn't deserve to be subjected to disciplinary procedures, or being hounded by the tabloid gutter press.
Whilst not wishing to be too harsh on the victim, I don't think she exactly did herself any favours. A grown adult (aged 22), it is reported she spent the night drinking - I would assume she had spent considerably more than 20p on alcohol that night. Sounds like yet another case of somebody not taking responsibility for their own actions, and paying the ultimate price for it.
The bus driver was simply doing what he was employed to do, and in my view didn't deserve to be subjected to disciplinary procedures, or being hounded by the tabloid gutter press.
Whilst not wishing to be too harsh on the victim, I don't think she exactly did herself any favours. A grown adult (aged 22), it is reported she spent the night drinking - I would assume she had spent considerably more than 20p on alcohol that night. Sounds like yet another case of somebody not taking responsibility for their own actions, and paying the ultimate price for it.
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People are (well at least should be) responsible for their own actions, what happened to this girl (woman really but girl makes better headlines doesnt it) was despicable BUT she made the conscious decision to walk past the park at 3 o'clock in the morning, okay she should not have been raped (obviously) but she put herself in a position where it could happen, if she had waited in town then nothing would have happened.
What happened to her is very sad and the only guilty person is the rapist, she didnt help herself though by walking near the park so a small amount of blame is on her, no blame on the bus driver, but then in this poxy country now its always somebody else's fault isnt it and its usually some person going about their job correctly.
What happened to her is very sad and the only guilty person is the rapist, she didnt help herself though by walking near the park so a small amount of blame is on her, no blame on the bus driver, but then in this poxy country now its always somebody else's fault isnt it and its usually some person going about their job correctly.
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'Blame' is the wrong word. Even if it was a silly thing to do, even if it would not have happened had she made a different decision, no blame whatsoever attaches to the victim.
She has an absolute right as a citizen of this country to walk in public at any time she chooses without being raped.
Many rape victims carry a sense of shame and blame with them after their attack, when in reality they have suffered a violent assault at the hands of an evil person. That's just not fair, and sentiments like yours only encourage that.
I invite you to withdraw that remark.
(I agree with the rest of your points about it not being the driver's fault.)
ralphchadkirk
Established Member
I agree. Clearly the victim is not to "blame" for the rape. The rapist is the only person to blame. I cannot stand it when people say things along the lines of "well, being dressed like that" et cetera as it's a ridiculous thing to try and claim.
Okay "blame" IS the wrong word but I couldnt think of one that showed how I felt about it, I suppose "responsibility" would be another possible word but is still wrong, the only one responsible or can be blamed for this is the rapist.
She did do what I and a lot of people would probably class as not the smartest thing to do (walk past the park at 3AM) but as you say "She has an absolute right as a citizen of this country to walk in public at any time she chooses without being raped."
In an ideal world there should not need to be any laws because everyone would behave sensibly and with the utmost integrity, but unfortunately the real world isnt like that and people have to try and make sure they do not end up in a position where something bad can happen.
You just have to weigh up the pros and cons of walking around at that time in the morning, she SHOULD have been fine walking alongside the park but by doing so she increased the (very small) chance of something happening. Unfortunately she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and something did happen.
She is NOT responsible for what happened to her any more than the bus driver is.
She did do what I and a lot of people would probably class as not the smartest thing to do (walk past the park at 3AM) but as you say "She has an absolute right as a citizen of this country to walk in public at any time she chooses without being raped."
In an ideal world there should not need to be any laws because everyone would behave sensibly and with the utmost integrity, but unfortunately the real world isnt like that and people have to try and make sure they do not end up in a position where something bad can happen.
You just have to weigh up the pros and cons of walking around at that time in the morning, she SHOULD have been fine walking alongside the park but by doing so she increased the (very small) chance of something happening. Unfortunately she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and something did happen.
She is NOT responsible for what happened to her any more than the bus driver is.
DavidBusDriver
Member
What I find horrendous is the fact that the girl suffered such an assault that her mother didn't recognise her - and yet that is worth a short sentence in the bottom of the article compared to the tirade about the "Gross feeling of injustice" and the evil of the nasty horrible bus driver.
Yes, I think that is exactly the point of what you were trying to say previously. Neither the victim or the bus driver should feel any blame or responsibility for the actions of the rapist.
Yes indeed. The only person at fault here is the attacker.
We see all these articles about the incident, each has interviews with the girl, and some with her mother and the police. All articles try to pin this on the bus driver, I havn't yet seen a report which has an interview from the bus driver. Telling his side of the story. Everyone needs to see it and realise he is free of any blame.
But I suppose its just the media trying to find more people to blame.
What if she would have seen she was 20p short before boarding the bus and not botherd catching it? What if she would have missed the bus? Who would they blame then?
The point is there is only one person to blame here and that is the attacker. No matter which way you look at it.
I hold full sympathy to the victim, and I do hope she has/is recovering from the ordial. I also hold sympathy for the bus driver, how people and the media try to pin this on him
You can have no ide aof the circumstances, and whether either of the people concerned were raucous, argumentative or drunk without being there.
If you had read the alternative explanation of what happened, you must either have immediately dismissed it as untrue, or you have to accept the possibility that the true facts are somewhat different to those that you chose to believe from the media reports. Otherwise, you wouldnot continue lambasting the driver and calling them a jobsworth, never mind insisting that they somehow share the responsibility for the crime.
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I agree that the bus driver bears no blame, however bearing in mind the vulnerability of the lady in question, perhaps some powers of discresion could be granted to bus drivers. (Although not advertised, as otherwise people may take advantage.)
Hopefully measures can be taken to ensure such things are less likely to happen again, perhaps a police prescence at some of the main bus stops could be useful? It may also be useful incase anyone gets rowdy. (some of the trains going into town in nottingham sometimes have security people on board)
Hopefully measures can be taken to ensure such things are less likely to happen again, perhaps a police prescence at some of the main bus stops could be useful? It may also be useful incase anyone gets rowdy. (some of the trains going into town in nottingham sometimes have security people on board)
When I have spoken to a few friends, who are local conductors on buses in Kent, they have explained that they advise their drivers to never turn away passengers late at night who are short of the fare. Schoolchildren, for example, who have lost their ticket or have insufficient fare for the evenings are made to fill out an 'Unpaid Fares' docket, which they are then billed for.
A driver has also said to me "If it is late at night, and they've only the child fare, then the child fare is what they'll pay!".
A driver has also said to me "If it is late at night, and they've only the child fare, then the child fare is what they'll pay!".
Lots of people are going on about how the bus driver is a jobsworth and he shouldnt have gone without her and is in some way 'to blame'. I wonder how the bus driver feels now. Probably a little like the train driver involved in a suicide. Whats done is done and what has happened can't be changed. My guess is he probably feels terrible and probably does blame himself more than he deserves to.
EM2
Established Member
There is a lot of sympathy for the victim, and a lot for the driver. This is not 'he or she is right or wrong' issue, but an issue where an unfortunate set of circumstances led to this terrible event.
The victim was short of the fare. The driver could have let her travel, but didn't. Another passenger could have given her the money but didn't.
It appears she want to an ATM. She could've got a taxi, but she didn't.
She called her Mum, who could have suggested she wait in the City Centre, but she didn't.
The victim was short of the fare. The driver could have let her travel, but didn't. Another passenger could have given her the money but didn't.
It appears she want to an ATM. She could've got a taxi, but she didn't.
She called her Mum, who could have suggested she wait in the City Centre, but she didn't.
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My comment was based on here and elsewhere but his postings have been prolific.
Anyway - my point...
The Daily Mail is the most read online newspaper in Britain and one of the most read "news" websites on the world stage. Personally, I can't stand a rag that thrives on trying to get people outraged on every page!
If the scenario that is being reported is actually true over what we hear as the driver's account on here, then the actions of the driver and passengers were part of the sequence of events that led to the rape.
However, as EM2 notes, she could have called a taxi with money from this aforementioned ATM or waited for a pick up in a well lit central area. So, the decisions there are part of the sequence of events.
While these sequences of events led the victim and the rapist to cross paths, there can only be one person who is to blame for such a horrific attack.
If the scenario that is being reported is actually true over what we hear as the driver's account on here, then the actions of the driver and passengers were part of the sequence of events that led to the rape.
However, as EM2 notes, she could have called a taxi with money from this aforementioned ATM or waited for a pick up in a well lit central area. So, the decisions there are part of the sequence of events.
While these sequences of events led the victim and the rapist to cross paths, there can only be one person who is to blame for such a horrific attack.
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My bold
I actually agree with your comments about the driver. However, part of your comment goes way too far and is very possibly the most outrageous comment I have ever seen on this forum. It pretty much says that a woman who is out by herself at 3am must expect to be raped. I really hope that this is clumsiness in wording and does not reflect your actual views.
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OK, I was so incensed when I saw that comment that I hit 'reply' immediately. I have read on and seen your later comments which do indeed show it was clumsiness in wording. My apologies.
For some reason I can post on my work IT but can't edit, hence an additional response.....
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