A girl claims that she has been raped. But can she convince a sceptical society, the police and the jury of the court case that follows? Act of Rape explores the attitudes which have made many rape victims suffer unnecessarily before the courts and prevented many girls from ever reporting that they were attacked. Jacky Gillott talks to girls who have been raped - and introduces a dramatisation based on recent court cases.

In the play - written by Fay Weldon - the fact that the young couple had intercourse is agreed. The jury must decide whether the girl was raped or whether she consented ... and the personal prejudices of 12 men and women cannot be divorced from the question of innocence or guilt.

Their deliberations set the scene for the studio debate - does the law and society work against the woman who has been raped? Will the new Act of Parliament help innocent victims or will it lead to wrong convictions?

Taking part: Judge Christmas Humphreys, Cmdr Daphne Skillern from Scotland Yard, MPs Robin Corbett and Ivan Lawrence, Professor Brian Simpson who served on the Heilbron Advisory Group on the Law of Rape, and others professionally involved as well as women who have been raped.
Designer COLIN LOWREY
Film cameraman DEREK BANKS Director MATTHEW ROBINSON Producer JACK SALTMAN Editor MICHAEL TOWNSON