Legal News

New figures from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) show that nearly three-quarters of rapes against adults and children in England and Wales are not passed to the Crown prosecution Service (CPS) by the police.

The Guardian reports that just 28% of rapes recorded by the police are sent to the CPS, with huge differences in the number alleged rapes referred to the Crown Prosecution Service among police forces in England and Wales.

The figures were collated from 43 police forces and the CPS and Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The authorities are hoping that analysis of the data will show how rape allegations are being treated.

It is reported that following the Jimmy Savile scandal and the launch of Operation Yewtree investigating cases of historic child sexual abuse, there was sharp increase in the number of recorded rape allegations.

Figures show that, in 2013-14, police in England and Wales recorded a total of 12,952 reports of adult rape and 7,775 child rape allegations, involving a young person under 16.

However, the number of recorded rape cases referred to the CPS for a charging decision totalled 5,850 – just 28% of all recorded rape cases.

Recorded rapes in some police forces are more likely to have a “no crime” recorded, where the allegation is removed from the police crime record. Police forces where this is more likely to occur include those in Leicestershire, Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire.

In 2013-2014, “no crime” was subsequently reported on 9% of all recorded rape allegations, figures show.

However, in Leicestershire, 20% of rape allegations recorded were no-crimed, while in Bedfordshire 19% were no-crimed.

In Derbyshire and the West Midlands, police no-crimed 6% of recorded rape allegations.

In Greater Manchester, police no-crimed 10% of recorded rape allegations –and Thames Valley police, the Metropolitan police, and police in Surrey and Northamptonshire no-crimed fewer than 10% of recorded rape allegations.

The disparity in no-crime reporting across different police forces may be down to the variations in how police forces deal with rape allegations, said a police source – with some immediately recording a crime, while other police forces carrying out an initial investigation before recording a rape as a crime.

The chief executive of Victim Support Mark Castle said:

“Everybody who has suffered this terrible crime deserves justice – and where they live should never determine how the police respond.”

HMIC said that on occasion someone who has made an allegation of rape might withdraw their allegation, however.

“There are many reasons why a reported rape does not continue to conviction: the police do not record the incident as a crime,” said a spokesman for HMIC.

“The victim does not wish for the case to be taken forward, the CPS advises that no further action be taken, the offence is changed to something other than rape – and importantly, the defendant is acquitted by a jury following a trial.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers

Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers can advise at any stage of a charge involving sexual offences such as rape, sexual assault, child sexual exploitation and child abuse, revenge porn, prostitution – and making, distributing or downloading indecent images.

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For expert legal advice on all criminal charges and representation during police interview under caution, call Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

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