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| Rape victims ‘devastated’ at cases being dropped | Rape victims ‘devastated’ at cases being dropped |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman who says she was raped by a man she had been on a date with says she was left "devastated" after prosecutors decided to drop her case. | A woman who says she was raped by a man she had been on a date with says she was left "devastated" after prosecutors decided to drop her case. |
| Annie Tisshaw says her mental health "really suffered" during the year-long investigation, and she was then told the CPS would not proceed further. | Annie Tisshaw says her mental health "really suffered" during the year-long investigation, and she was then told the CPS would not proceed further. |
| A new report has shown the number of convictions for rape has fallen to its lowest level since records began. | A new report has shown the number of convictions for rape has fallen to its lowest level since records began. |
| There were 1,925 convictions in 2018/19 - a 27% drop from the previous year. | There were 1,925 convictions in 2018/19 - a 27% drop from the previous year. |
| This was in spite of allegations of rape reaching a high of 58,000 in England and Wales. | This was in spite of allegations of rape reaching a high of 58,000 in England and Wales. |
| Campaigners say the CPS has changed its approach in rape cases - no longer building rape prosecutions, but screening cases out if they think a jury will not convict. | Campaigners say the CPS has changed its approach in rape cases - no longer building rape prosecutions, but screening cases out if they think a jury will not convict. |
| This is denied by the CPS, which has announced a review of its decisions in rape cases. | This is denied by the CPS, which has announced a review of its decisions in rape cases. |
| Former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood tweeted that the figures looked like rape was effectively being "decriminalised". | Former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood tweeted that the figures looked like rape was effectively being "decriminalised". |
| Annie, who has waived her right to anonymity, told the Victoria Derbyshire show that she was raped in her own flat after she had been on a date with a man she had met a few times before. | Annie, who has waived her right to anonymity, told the Victoria Derbyshire show that she was raped in her own flat after she had been on a date with a man she had met a few times before. |
| She says she reported the incident straight after it happened, handed over her phone, and the case was passed by police to the CPS, who told her it was "a positive case". | She says she reported the incident straight after it happened, handed over her phone, and the case was passed by police to the CPS, who told her it was "a positive case". |
| "I've done everything right that you should do and then at the end, nearly a year later, I was told there were inconsistencies in the case." | "I've done everything right that you should do and then at the end, nearly a year later, I was told there were inconsistencies in the case." |
| She says one of the reasons it was dropped was because CCTV from earlier in the night showed she wasn't looking "particularly scared or nervous". | She says one of the reasons it was dropped was because CCTV from earlier in the night showed she wasn't looking "particularly scared or nervous". |
| "This was a guy that I trusted, this was a guy that I had met before, so obviously at that time I didn't know it was going to happen." | "This was a guy that I trusted, this was a guy that I had met before, so obviously at that time I didn't know it was going to happen." |
| She says the other inconsistencies raised by the CPS were text messages that she had sent before the night of the alleged rape. | She says the other inconsistencies raised by the CPS were text messages that she had sent before the night of the alleged rape. |
| "My mental health really, really suffered throughout the police case," she says. "It's devastating that I've gone through all of that and it's just been dropped." | "My mental health really, really suffered throughout the police case," she says. "It's devastating that I've gone through all of that and it's just been dropped." |
| The annual Violence Against Women and Girls report shows the number of reports of rape that end in a conviction is around 3%. | The annual Violence Against Women and Girls report shows the number of reports of rape that end in a conviction is around 3%. |
| The figures also reveal that the number of suspects charged with rape or another offence has fallen, from 2,822 in 2017/18 to 1,758 in 2018/19. | The figures also reveal that the number of suspects charged with rape or another offence has fallen, from 2,822 in 2017/18 to 1,758 in 2018/19. |
| In 2007/8, when records were first compiled in the current way, 2,220 cases resulted in a charge. | In 2007/8, when records were first compiled in the current way, 2,220 cases resulted in a charge. |
| Of those, 2,201 cases resulted in a conviction - although some would be for investigations started in previous years. | Of those, 2,201 cases resulted in a conviction - although some would be for investigations started in previous years. |
| The conviction figure takes in the number of suspects initially investigated for rape who were later convicted of rape or other offences, such as sexual assault or indecent assault. | The conviction figure takes in the number of suspects initially investigated for rape who were later convicted of rape or other offences, such as sexual assault or indecent assault. |
| The CPS - whose budget has been cut by 25% since 2010 - says it has worked hard to improve how it deals with sexual offence cases. | The CPS - whose budget has been cut by 25% since 2010 - says it has worked hard to improve how it deals with sexual offence cases. |
| It explains the drop by saying that it is getting fewer rape referrals from police - a 23% fall from the previous year - and that cases are taking longer because of digital evidence and the demands to disclose material to the defence. | It explains the drop by saying that it is getting fewer rape referrals from police - a 23% fall from the previous year - and that cases are taking longer because of digital evidence and the demands to disclose material to the defence. |
| 'Appalling' | 'Appalling' |
| A coalition of women's organisations, represented by the Centre for Women's Justice (CWJ), is looking to take legal action against the CPS over claims cases are being "dropped" without good reason. | A coalition of women's organisations, represented by the Centre for Women's Justice (CWJ), is looking to take legal action against the CPS over claims cases are being "dropped" without good reason. |
| Lawyer Harriet Wistrich, founder of the CWJ, tweeted that the statistics were "appalling", adding that the "fault lies first and foremost with the CPS". | Lawyer Harriet Wistrich, founder of the CWJ, tweeted that the statistics were "appalling", adding that the "fault lies first and foremost with the CPS". |
| She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the CPS explanation for the drop in numbers could not account for "the magnitude of statistical change" over the last two years. | She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the CPS explanation for the drop in numbers could not account for "the magnitude of statistical change" over the last two years. |
| She said evidence from a number of sources provided a "compelling" case that the primary cause of the collapse in prosecutions came from "a deliberate change in the approach taken by the CPS dating back to late 2016". | She said evidence from a number of sources provided a "compelling" case that the primary cause of the collapse in prosecutions came from "a deliberate change in the approach taken by the CPS dating back to late 2016". |
| Max Hill, director of public prosecutions, denied that there had been a change in approach from prosecutors at the CPS. | Max Hill, director of public prosecutions, denied that there had been a change in approach from prosecutors at the CPS. |
| He told the Today programme: "I absolutely share the concern at the growing gap between rape reporting levels and the number of cases that are coming to court. | He told the Today programme: "I absolutely share the concern at the growing gap between rape reporting levels and the number of cases that are coming to court. |
| "I am not going to point the finger in any particular direction. We - all of us working in the criminal justice system - need to come together now to discuss this." | "I am not going to point the finger in any particular direction. We - all of us working in the criminal justice system - need to come together now to discuss this." |
| 'Unjustifiable failings' | |
| Deputy Chief Constable Sarah Crew, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for rape and adult sexual offences, said the decline in convictions reflects "a justice system that is stretched and under pressure". | |
| She said investigations were becoming more lengthy and complex due to the amount of digital evidence police had to examine from smartphones and other devices. | |
| But she said police were working with victims' groups to address issues that prevent people from reporting rape or from continuing to support an investigation. | |
| Andrea Simon, head of public affairs at End Violence Against Women, said the numbers showed women subjected to rape were being "further victimised by a system that does not take them seriously". | Andrea Simon, head of public affairs at End Violence Against Women, said the numbers showed women subjected to rape were being "further victimised by a system that does not take them seriously". |
| She added: "These shocking and unjustifiable failings speak to a clear and concerted shift in how the CPS has decided to prosecute rape." | She added: "These shocking and unjustifiable failings speak to a clear and concerted shift in how the CPS has decided to prosecute rape." |
| Following the publishing of the report, it was announced that the independent CPS watchdog, Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, would review charging decisions in rape cases "to increase accountability and reassure victims of sexual offences". | Following the publishing of the report, it was announced that the independent CPS watchdog, Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, would review charging decisions in rape cases "to increase accountability and reassure victims of sexual offences". |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? If you feel able to do so please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? If you feel able to do so please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
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