Giving Compass' Take:

• Imogen Calderwood reports that rape victims in the UK are being asked to turn over their phones and social media accounts or risk having their cases dropped. 

• How can funders work to ensure that victims aren't treated like criminals? 

• Learn how Illinois is working to improve police handling of rape cases. 

People who have been raped or sexually assaulted in England and Wales are reportedly being asked to give police permission to access their phones and social media accounts — or risk their cases collapsing.

The practice is part of a police effort to bring potential evidence into the open, after a number of rape and sexual assault cases collapsed as a result of crucial evidence emerging late in the trial, according to the BBC.

Women’s rights groups and senior police figures have, however, criticized the rollout as being invasive and “treating rape victims like suspects.”

Complainants are reportedly presented with a consent form, asking them to give police permission to access their phones — including their messages, emails, images, etc. — and their social media accounts.

While the digital consent forms can be used in any criminal investigation, they’re most likely to be used in rape and sexual assault cases, according to the BBC. That’s because complainants often know the suspect, and may have previously interacted with them through their mobile phones or on social media platforms.

The form adds: “If you refuse permission for the police to investigate, or for the prosecution to disclose material which would enable the defendant to have a fair trial then it may not be possible for the investigation or prosecution to continue.”

Read the full article about UK rape victims asked to hand over phones by Imogen Calderwood at Global Citizen.