Warning: Discussion of sexual assault and rape.
In an era where we half watch TV series as we scroll through our phones, ITV's Believe Me is a show that demands your attention for all the right reasons, but it will also become the most frustrating thing you'll see this year.
The four-part drama series was released this week and tells a dramatised version of the crimes of John Worboys, one of Britain's worst sex-offenders who was convicted in 2009 for 19 sex offences against 12 women between the years of 2006 and 2008.
However, Worboys, played superbly by Daniel Mays in the series, is really a secondary character, with arguably the main focus being on the lives of the women he assaulted and the systemic failure of the police to respond to their outcries, and the women's fight for justice to be believed.
The first episode follows the story of Sarah, one of the women attacked by Worboys, and her fight to be believed. It's a searingly frustrating watch as Sarah is questioned, disregarded and at times treated more like a suspect than a victim.
It's an experience that is sadly not Sarah's alone, with Harriet Wistrich, the CEO of Centre for Women’s Justice, saying of the series' depiction of how women are treated when reporting rape: "This drama shows how devastating investigative failures can be, and how important it is that survivors have a way to hold institutions to account when things go wrong.
"In portraying the courage of the two women, we learn how gruelling the process of reporting rape can be but also how, by standing up for their rights, they have left a lasting legacy."
The way the process is depicted is a truly frustrating watch, and these are just some of times we wanted to throw our TV remote at the screen.
When the nurse disregards her after she wakes up
Right after her assault Sarah wakes up in the hospital, obviously disoriented and confused as to what has happened to her. However, rather than being treated with any humanity or kindness, the nurse just disregards her and tells her she "seemed a bit drunk" when she came in and dismisses her as a party girl who went over her limit.
When the police officer asked if there was a chance she had sex with someone else and forgot about it
There were so many shocking moments during that initial disclosure Sarah made to the police, but the one that really stuck with us? The female officer asking Sarah if maybe she had sex and just forgot about it?
The cocaine obsession
After Sarah reveals she had the smallest bit of cocaine during her friend's birthday night out, the revelation takes on a life of its own and the police seem to use it as an excuse for her hazy recollection and use it as an excuse for not investigating further. It also becomes a problem between Sarah and Connor, who also becomes distracted by Sarah's cocaine use rather than the crime that happened to her.
Asking if she was a 'sexually promiscuous person'
Immediate eye roll.
The fact the police didn't take down Worboys' name at the station
As Sarah points out multiple times during the episode the taxi driver dropped her off at the station and so they should have all his details and yet, they just don't have any of his information and let him walk out the station.
Or bother to take pictures of her bruises
During her car ride to the interview, the police officer dismisses her bruises as something that could have happened to her when she was moved to the hospital. Sorry, but what kind of bruises do you get being moved onto a stretcher?
The victim blaming throughout her interview
Towards the end of the episode she has an interview with another officer whose entire questioning is filled with questions that seem to centre Sarah as the person at blame not the taxi driver. And to top it off she said she doesn't act like a "normal" victim.
When Sarah gives so many opportunities to find new evidence
Honestly, at this point Sarah should start working for the police as she's doing their jobs for them. Throughout the episode she goes to meet the boy who dropped her off at the station, gives the police her friends' details and even identities the spot in which she was assaulted. And yet what do the police do? Nothing.
When the police say they don't believe she was raped
It was at this point we considered turning off the TV. However, while we have the luxury to do so, for Sarah and women like her that phone call will stay with them long after they hang up.
The rest of the series will explore how Sarah and Worboys' other victims do go on to get justice, but that justice shouldn't overshadow every single moment it took to get them there, and how much they weren't believed when they first came forward.
Believe Me is available for catchup on ITVX and continues on ITV1 tomorrow night at 9pm
If you've been affected by the contents of this article, Rape Crisis England & Wales' 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year on 0808 500 2222 with other support available on their website too.
