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Postcode lottery on rape convictions

By Ellie Omahoney on Wednesday 10 June 2009

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Marie Claire World News

Women reporting rape are 11 times more likely to get a conviction in some areas than in others, according to a new report.

Data obtained from the Ministry of Justice by the campaigning equality group, the Fawcett Society, found huge discrepancies in conviction rates in different parts of the country. In Cleveland, almost one in five rapes reported to the police in 2007 resulted in a conviction, while in Dorset the figure was fewer than one in sixty.

Campaigners blame the low conviction rates on systematic failures and prejudices from the time of the initial complaint right up until the trial itself.

"The appalling figures in most police force areas reveal that women continue to face a postcode lottery when reporting rape to the police," said Katherine Rake, director of the Fawcett Society.

"Rape should be treated with the same professionalism as other crimes with consistency in initial response to victims and investigation across police areas."

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Wednesday 10 June 2009

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I've sat in many rape trials in the Hampshire area and the police have put a good case together as have the CPS but it's the prejudices that the jurors bring that seems to be the problem. Very sad.
Comment by Leigh Bunley on June 30 15:21

Women should always be aware of the danger of having too much to drink/being "helped" by strangers.Woman are still judged on their clothes etc even by their peers. Cardinal rule - DO NOT put yourself in that situation!
Comment by kathy on July 31 17:31

The punishment for rape is appalling. Until we get enough prisons to cope with the amount of rapists nothing will make things better. A great amount of rapist are released even tho its odds on they will do it again and again, and the powers that be know this will happen
Comment by pat on August 03 12:59

@ kathy - your comment is a dangerous one which once agian puts the onus on Women rather than on the Rapist! "Do not put yourself in that situation"...Women get raped at home by their husbands/boyfriends/family members, did these victims put themselves into that situation?! Women get raped walking to the shops, coming home from the train station, at work, in jail, at parties, while on a date, at school...are these women also putting themselves in that situation? NO! Rape has nothing to do with alchol, what one is wearing, if one is considered flirty, if someone has had sex before, if someone is a sex worker - rape is performed by a RAPIST and the sole onus should be on him!
Comment by Rachel on September 09 14:39