Conservative MP Alicia Kearns has alleged that a company producing self-swab kits for rape victims threatened a woman with legal action after she raised concerns about its products and statements. Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Kearns claimed that Enough, which also targeted rape charities, was misleading the public by asserting that its kits could be used by victims to collect DNA evidence after a rape.
Threats to Personal Reputation and Career
The woman was reportedly told she would face damage to her “personal reputation … career prospects … and future opportunities” if she continued posting about the company on social media. Ms Kearns stated that Enough initially demanded “injunctive relief, damages for defamation, and recovery of legal costs” and later instructed a law firm to issue a “cease and desist” letter.
Impact on Rape Trials
The MP for Rutland and Stamford highlighted that one kit had already caused a rape trial to collapse and that such kits prevented proper evidence collection or DNA checks against police records. Enough describes itself as a “social movement to prevent rape” and markets its kits as the “breathalyser of rape”. Its website claims that, in principle, the kits could be admissible in court, though it acknowledges there has not been enough time for a test case.
Police Warning Against Kits
Enough also asserts that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has instructed police to use its evidence where available. However, in March, the NPCC issued a statement warning against using the kits, with Chief Constable Sarah Crew stating they “can create false expectations, lead to re‑traumatisation and reduce trust in statutory services.” A spokesperson for Enough “categorically” rejected allegations of misleading women.
Call for SLAPP Legislation
Ms Kearns raised the issue while urging the Government to ban Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which use defamation and privacy laws to intimidate critics. Justice Secretary David Lammy previously supported tougher laws against SLAPPs while in opposition, but the Labour government has not introduced standalone legislation, only activating provisions from 2023.
Using parliamentary privilege, Ms Kearns described the case as “stomach-churning” and expressed hope that Enough would stop threatening those raising concerns. She said: “The company is called Enough. They sell self-swab rape kits to women and children, and they do so on the back of a series of lies, that their kits are admissible in court. They are not. That women are more likely to be raped than get cancer. They are not. That 430,000 people are raped in the UK every year. They are not. And that only one of their devices will deter a man from raping you, as if it is my responsibility as a woman to stop a man from raping me.”
Charities and Authorities Investigating
More than 40 sexual assault charities have urged against the kits’ use. In June last year, Rape Crisis expressed “serious concerns about the marketing and selling of the kits.” MPs heard that the Advertising Standards Authority and Trading Standards are investigating. Ms Kearns read from a letter sent by Enough to a woman, warning of “lasting damage to your personal reputation, your career prospects and future opportunities” if she continued. She noted that a “cease and desist” letter from a law firm followed a week later. “This is predatory and is not a one-off,” she said, adding that Enough’s lawyers sent a similar letter to a rape crisis charity, claiming the company’s approach was “in the best interests of survivors.”
Ms Kearns urged the Government to ban self-swab rape kits and honour its promise to legislate against SLAPPs. She said: “I’m speaking out because Enough has intimidated people into silence and rape charities are quiet because they don’t have the financial means to take legal action, legal action which distracts them from their duties to survivors.”
Government Response
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby responded to the debate, acknowledging the “shocking information about self-swab rape kits” shared. In a statement, Enough said: “Enough exists to support people who would otherwise do nothing after a sexual assault. The reality is that most survivors never report or access services, leaving many without support or the option of preserving evidence. Thousands of young people already support Enough and want a third option to report rape – one that doesn’t force them into a system they feel unable to face. We categorically reject any suggestion that we mislead women. Our information is clear about what the kits are, what they are not, and the choices available. Enough does not replace SARCs, the police or specialist support services – it exists alongside them for those not ready or able to access those routes. As a non-profit, our focus is giving people options when they feel they have none. That includes being transparent about the legal and evidential landscape, which is why we continue to work with legal experts and stakeholders. We do not comment on individual correspondence, but we are committed to engaging responsibly with those who raise concerns.”
