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Victims quizzed in bid to raise rape convictions
Amar Singh14 May 2009
Rape victims are to be interviewed by the criminal justice system to find out why so few win justice.
The initiative, to be run by the policing standards watchdog the Inspectorate of Constabulary, comes as it emerged that Britain has the lowest conviction rates for the crime in Europe.
It is one of a raft of measures being introduced by the Home Office which is concerned the conviction rate for rape in England and Wales has fallen to 6.5 per cent.
The first European study of rape conviction rates put Britain bottom of 33 countries.
A Whitehall source said: “It should be higher and we are working to make it higher.” The study's author, Liz Kelly, blamed a “culture of scepticism, which has refused to understand the realities of rape”.
The scheme to interview victims will start next year. It is part of a national audit of police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
In another initiative, a group is to tour police forces advising on rape investigations. Dave Gee, a former detective chief superintendent who is running the programme, said: “Too often, because of the negative mind at the outset, the case is undermined rather than built up.”
Rapists John Worboys and Kirk Reid were able to attack scores of women after the Met failed to investigate accusations properly.
Reader views (3)
Well as a victim of rape twice myself, I'd say (a) train police to take rape claims seriously so that women don't feel it is a waste of time to report the crime (b) be realistic about what will stand up in court so that there is no sea of failed cases which came down to the word of one person against the other (c) to improve public sympathy for the credibility of the cause don't disclose the names of accused men until it is established that they are guilty (d) create a new criminal offence specifically dealing with false rape claims, so that women who 'cry wolf' are deterred from discrediting genuine rape claims (e) publish the names of women found guilty of false rape claims (f) educate women not to place themselves in dangerous ambiguous situations with men where they might become victims of date-rape: although it doesn't cover rape by, say, a husband - old fashioned dating where there were clear demarcations about getting to know each other made things much clearer (g) rape is a serious assault - as serious as being shot, and does damage for the rest of the victim's life: give prison sentences that reflect Society's condemnation of such a crime.
Every case is different, and it needs to be recognised that there is a large grey area, although sadly not all can be prosecuted the ones that can be should be treated with the gravity they deserve.
- Roz, France, 14/05/2009 13:12
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I was a victim of this horrendous act. The police in dealing with this were dreadful. The CPS need to look at how the police deal with it in the first instance. More money wasted... Should be given to victim support, rather than hassling victims again. Simple.
- Victim, London, England, 14/05/2009 12:43
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Why put rape victims through more hassle? It's obvious that the police force are so damn useless, so they should concentrate on getting their own house in order first.
- Napoleon Blownaparte, London, 14/05/2009 09:51
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