A BRITISH TOURIST has criticised the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) for what she claims is its lukewarm response to a report of an attempted rape.
Helen Najuk, 27, who resides in Nottingham, told the Daily Mail that after managing to fight off her attacker, she was met with “complete indifference” from local police.
The businesswoman said she was grabbed from behind and almost raped while out jogging in Holetown, St James, around 7:30 a.m. on January 29, and had to fight for her life after being dragged to the ground and kicked and beaten by a stranger, just yards from the holiday apartment she was staying at with boyfriend David Pownall.
Najuk alleged that when the couple went to a nearby police station to report the assault, desk officers “didn’t even stand up from their seats” to ask her if she was all right.
“I suffered an extremely traumatic ordeal but the police couldn’t have been less caring,” she said.
Pownall added: “We feel it is our duty to speak out to try and shame the authorities into action, so that nobody else is attacked like Helen was.”
Najuk said she was so exasperated she left without filing a statement, sending one via email after she flew back to England later that day.
The Barbadian authorities had not contacted her or made an arrest, she said.
Recalling the incident, she said it was only through the assistance of one of her neighbours that she was able to repel her attacker.
“I fell to the ground and he started repeatedly kicking me as he tried to pin me down. I had nothing on me of any value and was wearing only running gear, so I believe the motive was sexual.
“Then, as he grabbed one of my legs, my screams eventually alerted a neighbour who ran out and chased the attacker away,” Najuk said.
However, when contacted, police public relations officer Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler said he had only just been told of the incident. incident had only just been drawn to his attention.
He said a full investigation would be launched in light of Najuk’s allegations.
“It has now been drawn to our attention and we will now have to conduct an internal investigation following these allegations,” he said. (RB)