A RAPE victim charity is “shocked” by research which found the majority of people believe some rape victims are responsible for being attacked.

According to the survey of more than 1,000 people, 56 per cent felt there were certain circumstances where the victim should be held partly accountable.

And 28 per cent thought people who wore revealing clothes should take some of the blame if they were sexually assaulted.

Among women, 23 per cent said if someone danced provocatively at a nightclub they should be held partly responsible, and 15 per cent said the same if they had accepted a drink from their attacker.

Malcolm Gilbert, who is operations director for rape victim charity Family Matters, said: “I’m still shocked that society still holds these peculiar views where the victim is somehow to blame for their rape. I don’t get it.

“If girls are sitting there thinking it’s their own fault, no wonder we don’t get many convictions for rape.

“I know there are cases that go to court where they could get a conviction and maybe this is the reason they don’t get a result.”

Family Matters, based in Wrotham Road, Gravesend, has supported 152 rape victims so far this current financial year, with 61 aged under 18 and 35 aged between 12 and 16.

Mr Gilbert said: “How can you say a young girl aged 12 asks for it or is responsible for her rape?

“It’s like saying a gentleman in a well cut suit walking home late at night is asking to be robbed.

“It’s the same nonsense.”

The research, called Wake Up To Rape, was carried out to mark the 10th anniversary of the Havens, which runs sexual assault referral centres in London.

Dr Jan Welch, clinical director at the Haven in Camberwell, said: “Unfortunately, women have bought into the idea that sometimes the rape victim is to blame. Under no circumstances is a woman at fault for being raped.

“Coping with the emotional trauma of rape or sexual assault is made even harder when the victim is made to feel responsible for what's happened.”

As well as most of Kent, Family Matters covers Greenwich, Bromley, Lewisham, Bexley and Reigate in Surrey.