Judges will tell juries to ignore 'rape myths'

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The new directions are being promoted by the Government to improve the conviction rate for the crime. Currently only 6.5 per cent of rapes reported to the police lead to a conviction.

Defence lawyers are accused of using a series of "rape myths" to improve the chances of clients being cleared. Such myths include claims that:

A genuine victim will report rape at once: in fact trauma can lead to a delay in going to police.

False allegations of rape are common: there is no evidence false allegations are any more common in rape than other serious crimes.

Most rapes are committed by strangers: actually most rapists are known to their victims.

Genuine rape victims will put up a struggle and show signs of injury: many women freeze when attacked.

Women who flirt are "asking for it": juries will be told that if a man flashes his wallet in a pub and then has it stolen, the man who steals it is no less a thief.

The draft judicial directions are with the Judicial Studies Board, the organisation in charge of training judges.

Peter Lodder QC, chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, said: "Moves to increase the effectiveness of prosecutions in rape cases are to be welcomed.

"But any initiative to make sure that all rape allegations are tried - and tried effectively - must be counter-balanced by ensuring that a fair trial for a defendant is not undermined."