Episode 3 - The Predator

The third episode of the new series of 24 Hours in Police Custody follows detectives from the force's Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team as they put together a thorough investigation into 38-year-old Mohammed Altaher.

Earlier this year, Altaher was found guilty of raping two men he met through the dating app Grindr in two separate attacks in August and September 2019, and was subsequently jailed for 10 years. 

Both victims have spoken out about the ordeal and how it affected them.

The episode raises the importance of consent, and the fact that it can be withdrawn at any time. Read the full release.

Consent

What separates sex or affection from rape or sexual assault? The answer is consent.

Consent means agreeing to what's happening by choice, and having the freedom and ability to make or change that choice.

• You can change your mind at any point and withdraw consent for anything sexual you're doing.
• If someone carries on after you've asked them to stop, that's still rape or sexual assault, even if you originally said yes.
• Saying yes to one thing doesn't mean you've consented to anything else.
• If you're threatened or pressured into something, then you haven't consented freely and it's a crime.
• If you can't freely give consent then it's a crime, for example if you're asleep, too drunk to consent, or have taken drugs.

Visit the Consent is Everything website for more on consent.

Support for rape and sexual assault

The Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership lists a range of support services for those who have suffered sexual violence and abuse, including specialist services for boys and men as well as the LGBT+ community.

For more information, visit the Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership website.

See further support options for rape and sexual assault.