Rape probes 'mediocrity' slammed

Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner John Yates, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on rape, told a newspaper many officers failed to take rape allegations as seriously as other crimes.

He said victims often met an attitude of scepticism and lethargy.

Mr Yates added that officers "must absolutely accept the victim's version of events unless there are very substantial reasons to do otherwise".

Mr Yates is responsible for trying to raise the level of concern and awareness over rape cases amid controversy over the low levels of convictions in the UK.

He said: "If you've just been through the horror of a rape and you've plucked up the courage to see the cops and the body language is sceptical, the voice is sceptical, what's that saying to you?

"First impressions count: is this person going to care for me?; does the officer believe me?"

Less than 6% of rape cases reported to police lead to a conviction, with victims dropping out at every stage of the investigation, but Mr Yates said the biggest problem was in the earliest stages, and the best chances of finding evidence came in the first 48 hours.

He said: "There are pockets of excellence but in many areas we have been satisfied by mediocrity.

"Victims absolutely deserve the proper professional service which is available in some parts of the country."