Sexual Violence Against Older People

Hannah Bows is deputy director of the Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse and assistant professor in criminal law at Durham Law School. Her research focuses on different forms of violence against women, particularly domestic and sexual violence. Her recent work includes a national study of rape of older people, a national study profiling homicide of older people and a study exploring ‘risk’ in relation to older sex offenders and policing. Outside the university she is the deputy director of the British Society of Criminology Victims Network and chair of Age UK Teesside, and sits as a magistrate on the Durham and Darlington bench.

"This ground-breaking book explores the under-researched area of sexual violence against older women. Ageism and sexism make older women survivors invisible. In an engaging and accessible manner, Bows discusses inter-disciplinary issues and analyses her interviews with practitioners, and survivor case studies. An international research agenda is identified. Essential reading for academics and practitioners." John Williams, Emeritus Professor of Law, Aberystwyth University

• Introduction Mapping the existing knowledge about sexual violence against older people The extent and nature of serious sexual violence against older people in the UK The impacts, support needs and gaps in service provision for older survivors: views of practitioners Experiences of sexual violence as an older woman: case studies of survivors Conclusions