Just 1.6 Per Cent Of Rape Cases Lead To A Charge

Just 1.6 per cent of rape cases in England and Wales lead to a charge, it has been revealed.

According to The Guardian, Home Office figures revealed a mere 843 rape cases in 2020 resulted in a charge, despite there being 52,210 cases recorded - the equivalent of fewer than one in 60.

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Meanwhile, prosecutions have fallen 71 per cent between 2016-17 to the end of 2020, leading to convictions more than halving.

The worrying statistics are expected to pressure the government to move forward with its end-to-end review into how rape is prosecuted - which was commissioned two years ago.

The review was intended to be complete last spring, but was pushed back so more research could be conducted. However, justice secretary Robert Buckland told MPs last week it would be published before the end of this spring. According to The Guardian, it is expected to now be published in June.

The review is thought to recommend allowing rape victims provide pre-recorded evidence before trial, banning public from courtroom galleries more often and also making sure mobile phones are returned to victims sooner.

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Victims' commissioner, Vera Baird, said: "Bearing in mind that independent reviews in both Scotland and Northern Ireland have called for radical measures, we now can't have anything less in a review in large part produced by the very agencies whose performance is in question."

Meanwhile, a government spokesperson said: "Victims of rape deserve to know that their cases will be taken seriously and everything will be done to bring offenders to justice.

"That is why we are reviewing the response to this horrific crime, in consultation with survivors' groups and experts across the sector, and will set out next steps in due course."

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Siobhan Blake of the CPS added: "At the CPS, we are determined to reverse the drop in rape and sexual offence cases going to court. Too few victims are seeing justice, and we want to change that.

"These cases are some of the most challenging and sensitive to prosecute, but we are committed to improving every aspect of how they are handled."

Topics: UK News, News, Rape

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot. Get in touch at [email protected].