According to the group of parliamentarians, the government needs “a lot of ambition and focus” to get past the “horrific collapse” of the rape charge. The council’s internal committee said the “unacceptably low” number of suspects brought to justice for rape and sexual offenses would continue “without robust reform” of the criminal justice system and would need significant funding to make an impact.
Police in England and Wales recorded the highest number of rape and sexual crimes in the 12 months to September. Meanwhile, the proportion of suspects in court has fallen to a new all-time low and remains the lowest in rape cases.
Committee chair Diana Johnson said the decline in prosecutions for rape and sexual assault over the past five years is truly appalling and totally unacceptable. While it is clear that great efforts are being made to reverse this decline in the criminal justice system, there is still much that needs to be done.
“Thousands of victims are failing to get the justice they deserve and this must stop. We need to see more ambition and focus.
“From now on, all elements of the system related to rape and sexual offenses must be constantly reviewed and reformed. “There can be no undoing until criminal proceedings and convictions are much higher than they were in 2016.”
Calling the government’s review of rape – a plan drawn up to tackle the problem – a lack of “ambition”, the panel said “little confidence” was set in the 2024 prosecution target set by 2024. Calling on ministers to go much further, Accelerate and promote change in rape and sexual offenses in the police, CPS and courts, in order to dramatically increase the volume of prosecutions and convictions.
Among the recommendations in the report, the commission said it was “vital” that victims receive support in the investigation and prosecution process and that the police response “will improve.” He also called on the Peace and Security Council to improve communication with victims.
A government spokesperson said: “While the commission acknowledges the progress we have made, we are clear that there is still much to be done. This is why we are calling on more sexual assault counselors, faster dissemination of pre-recorded evidence, and improved collaboration. Between the police and the attorney general’s office, and increasing funding for victim support services to at least 40.440 million over the next three years.
“Recent numbers show that the number of rape reports has increased moderately and that our reforms will contribute to this progress in the future.”
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Source: Belfastlive
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
