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Metropolitan Police review of sex case evidence Metropolitan Police review of sex case evidence
(about 1 hour later)
The Metropolitan Police is launching a review of all ongoing sex crime investigations, after the collapse of two rape cases in a week.The Metropolitan Police is launching a review of all ongoing sex crime investigations, after the collapse of two rape cases in a week.
On Tuesday, prosecutors dropped a case against a man charged with raping a child under 16 due to police providing "relevant" evidence in recent days.On Tuesday, prosecutors dropped a case against a man charged with raping a child under 16 due to police providing "relevant" evidence in recent days.
Last week, Liam Allan's trial collapsed because of the late disclosure of evidence.Last week, Liam Allan's trial collapsed because of the late disclosure of evidence.
The Met said the same officer worked on both cases and remains on full duty.The Met said the same officer worked on both cases and remains on full duty.
In the most recent case of Isaac Itiary, the Crown Prosecution Service said the new material provided by Scotland Yard meant the case could not proceed. In the most recent case of Isaac Itiary, the Crown Prosecution Service said "new material" provided by Scotland Yard meant the case could not proceed.
Conservative MP Nigel Evans, who was cleared of rape and sexual assault charges in 2014, said there was a "systemic" problem, which could leave innocent people in jail.Conservative MP Nigel Evans, who was cleared of rape and sexual assault charges in 2014, said there was a "systemic" problem, which could leave innocent people in jail.
A CPS spokesman said: "On 17 December, the police provided new material to the CPS, which had previously been requested, and this was reviewed. The Met review is aimed at ensuring all digital evidence in other sex crime cases has been disclosed to the CPS.
"Prosecutors decided that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and we offered no evidence against the defendant at a hearing today."
The review is aimed at ensuring all digital evidence in other sex crime cases has been disclosed to the CPS.
Liam Allan was charged with 12 counts of rape and sexual assault but his trial collapsed after police were ordered to hand over phone records.Liam Allan was charged with 12 counts of rape and sexual assault but his trial collapsed after police were ordered to hand over phone records.
A computer disk containing 40,000 messages revealed that the alleged victim had pestered him for "casual sex".A computer disk containing 40,000 messages revealed that the alleged victim had pestered him for "casual sex".
The 22-year-old student, who spent almost two years on bail, has said he intends to sue the Met.The 22-year-old student, who spent almost two years on bail, has said he intends to sue the Met.
Jerry Hayes, who was the barrister prosecuting the case against Mr Allan, agreed with Mr Evans' assertion that the problem was "systemic" within the police, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "You speak to any barrister they will tell you stories that this happens every single day and it has got to stop."
He said anyone about to go to trial should seek a letter from the police force to say all evidence has been disclosed, and for those convicted, "they will have to be looked at again".
Force 'committed'Force 'committed'
Commander Richard Smith, who oversees the Met's rape investigations, said he understood that the failure of the latest case would raise further concerns.Commander Richard Smith, who oversees the Met's rape investigations, said he understood that the failure of the latest case would raise further concerns.
He added: "The Met is completely committed to understanding what went wrong in the case of Mr Allan and is carrying out a joint review with the CPS, the findings of which will be published."He added: "The Met is completely committed to understanding what went wrong in the case of Mr Allan and is carrying out a joint review with the CPS, the findings of which will be published."
But Mr Evans, who is meeting Mr Allan in the House of Commons later, said the late disclosure of evidence is "common" in investigations. But Mr Evans, who is meeting Mr Allan at Parliament later, said the late disclosure of evidence is "common" in investigations.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: "It seems to be in too many cases that police are cherry-picking the evidence that is there in order to get a prosecution.Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: "It seems to be in too many cases that police are cherry-picking the evidence that is there in order to get a prosecution.
"That is not what the justice system is about - it should follow the evidence.""That is not what the justice system is about - it should follow the evidence."
Mr Evans said he did not want people to be dissuaded from coming forward when they had been attacked or for those who have committed crimes to be released "on technicalities". Mr Evans called for a "proper review" from police forces across the country, not just the Met.
But he called for a "proper review" from police forces across the country, not just the Met.
"Because of the failures in the system… quite frankly, lives have been ruined," he added."Because of the failures in the system… quite frankly, lives have been ruined," he added.
'Rigour is absent' Culture shift?
Jerry Hayes, who was the barrister prosecuting the case against Liam Allan, agreed with Mr Evans' assertion that the problem was "systemic" within the police, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "You speak to any barrister they will tell you stories that this happens every single day and it has got to stop." Lord Brian Paddick, former Met deputy assistant commissioner, said he was worried the "culture may have shifted" at the Met.
He said anyone about to go to trial should seek a letter from the police force to say all evidence has been disclosed, and for those convicted, "they will have to be looked at again". "When I did a review of rape investigations in the Met in 2005, the problem was the police didn't believe the people making the allegations," he told the Victoria Derbyshire programme.
Chris Henley, vice chair of the Criminal Bar Association, told BBC Radio 5 Live that with the huge amount of material officers sift through "too often corners are being cut". "Now my concern is... that the culture may have shifted so that the complainant is always believed and an even-handed investigation may not be taking place."
He added: "The rigour that should be brought to bear in the earliest stage of a prosecution is absent. He also called for an independent review of all sex cases.
"From these two recent cases, it can't be the case that these are isolated examples." Chris Henley, vice chair of the Criminal Bar Association, agreed that while complainants had been treated "abominably" in the past "now things have gone too far the other way".
Statistics from Rape Crisis suggest approximately 85,000 women and 12,000 men are raped in England and Wales every year - the equivalent of 11 rapes of an adult per hour. "When an allegation is made, of course the complaint needs to be treated with complete respect and appropriately, but then the allegation needs to be tested," he added.
However, only 5.7% of reported rape cases end in a conviction. A Home Office study suggests only 4% of cases of sexual violence reported to police are thought to be false.
And statistics from Rape Crisis indicate only 5.7% of reported rape cases end in a conviction.
Officers 'stressed'
Former Met detective chief inspector Peter Kirkham told the Victoria Derbyshire programme it was a resources issue.
"Since 2010, we have reduced the number of police officers around the country by about 20,000 - that's about 15%," he said.
"You cannot do what you can't do.
"If you go and speak to any of the police officers on the [rape units] they are not sleeping at night.
"They are suffering from stress. [They aren't disclosing evidence] because they haven't got time to do their jobs properly."