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| Rape convictions: Justice system near 'breaking point', says watchdog | Rape convictions: Justice system near 'breaking point', says watchdog |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A review of record low rape conviction rates has found a justice system "close to breaking point" because of cuts. | A review of record low rape conviction rates has found a justice system "close to breaking point" because of cuts. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (CPSI) said a "damning" number of cases are lost during "under-resourced" police investigations. | The Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (CPSI) said a "damning" number of cases are lost during "under-resourced" police investigations. |
| But it rejected claims prosecutors unfairly select the cases they charge. | |
| The government said the findings were "deeply concerning" while women's groups said the review failed to explain "woeful" conviction rates. | |
| Prosecutors have previously acknowledged that there were a record 58,657 allegations of rape in the year up to March, but only 1,925 successful prosecutions - the lowest number in England and Wales since records began in 2008. | Prosecutors have previously acknowledged that there were a record 58,657 allegations of rape in the year up to March, but only 1,925 successful prosecutions - the lowest number in England and Wales since records began in 2008. |
| It has led to accusations that the Crown Prosecution Service is being too "risk averse" and only bringing cases which are easy to win to court. | It has led to accusations that the Crown Prosecution Service is being too "risk averse" and only bringing cases which are easy to win to court. |
| But the CPSI says fewer rape cases are being referred by police to prosecutors - a fall of 23% - and police are taking longer to investigate them. | But the CPSI says fewer rape cases are being referred by police to prosecutors - a fall of 23% - and police are taking longer to investigate them. |
| Chief inspector Kevin McGinty said the justice system as a whole is "under-resourced so that it is close to breaking point". For police, he said "it may have gone beyond that" and "the number of rape allegations lost in the investigative process is damning". | Chief inspector Kevin McGinty said the justice system as a whole is "under-resourced so that it is close to breaking point". For police, he said "it may have gone beyond that" and "the number of rape allegations lost in the investigative process is damning". |
| To address claims that the CPS was being too selective about the cases it prosecutes, inspectors examined a sample 250 cases. | To address claims that the CPS was being too selective about the cases it prosecutes, inspectors examined a sample 250 cases. |
| In five of these (2%), the decision was found to be "wholly unreasonable". In 2016, the inspectors found that applied to 10% of decisions. | In five of these (2%), the decision was found to be "wholly unreasonable". In 2016, the inspectors found that applied to 10% of decisions. |
| The inspectors said this suggested that prosecutors were improving the way they apply the test for charging or releasing suspects, rather than selecting "easy cases". | The inspectors said this suggested that prosecutors were improving the way they apply the test for charging or releasing suspects, rather than selecting "easy cases". |
| It comes after a series of women who say they were raped waived anonymity to complain about CPS charging decisions. | It comes after a series of women who say they were raped waived anonymity to complain about CPS charging decisions. |
| Annie Tisshaw told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire that the police investigation into her case took many months and, after being passed to the CPS, requests for further evidence led to it being dropped. | |
| The former North West chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal said it seemed as though Ms Tisshaw was the subject of the investigation rather than the alleged perpetrator. | |
| Police and prosecutors were criticised over their handling of a case in 2017 when a student was acquitted on 12 counts of rape and sexual assault because text messages which undermined the complainant had not been disclosed. | Police and prosecutors were criticised over their handling of a case in 2017 when a student was acquitted on 12 counts of rape and sexual assault because text messages which undermined the complainant had not been disclosed. |
| The inspectors said cases have become more complex due to the volume of evidence from mobile phones and social media, placing more pressure on an overstretched system. | The inspectors said cases have become more complex due to the volume of evidence from mobile phones and social media, placing more pressure on an overstretched system. |
| The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said investigators were "under huge strain" and rape is "one of the most complex crimes" they deal with. | The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said investigators were "under huge strain" and rape is "one of the most complex crimes" they deal with. |
| Deputy Chief Constable Sarah Crew, the NPCC lead for adult sexual offences and rape, said police were working with prosecutors to address these issues, while the government's promised 20,000 additional officers would "ease the pressure". | Deputy Chief Constable Sarah Crew, the NPCC lead for adult sexual offences and rape, said police were working with prosecutors to address these issues, while the government's promised 20,000 additional officers would "ease the pressure". |
| And crown chief prosecutor Siobhan Blake, a CPS lead for sexual offences, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the report demonstrates there is "no evidence that prosecutors are risk averse or that we at the CPS are choosing to prosecute easy cases". | And crown chief prosecutor Siobhan Blake, a CPS lead for sexual offences, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the report demonstrates there is "no evidence that prosecutors are risk averse or that we at the CPS are choosing to prosecute easy cases". |
| But Sarah Green, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said the report was "profoundly disappointing" and failed to uncover the real reasons for the decline in successful prosecutions. | But Sarah Green, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said the report was "profoundly disappointing" and failed to uncover the real reasons for the decline in successful prosecutions. |
| She said the report seeks to "leave many questions at the police front door" when the number of cases which the CPS had decided to bring to court had declined faster than the number of cases referred by police to prosecutors. | She said the report seeks to "leave many questions at the police front door" when the number of cases which the CPS had decided to bring to court had declined faster than the number of cases referred by police to prosecutors. |
| She added that certain kinds of cases were "being shaved off and that is very, very detrimental to justice". | She added that certain kinds of cases were "being shaved off and that is very, very detrimental to justice". |
| A government spokesperson said the findings were "deeply concerning" and that "victims deserve to know they will be supported". | |
| "To put this right we are conducting a full review of the criminal justice system's response, recruiting 20,000 more police, giving £85m million to the Crown Prosecution Service, creating extra prison places and making sure violent and sexual offenders spend longer behind bars," the spokesperson added. | |
| "Clearly there is more to do, but this government is committed to restoring confidence in the justice system and providing better support for victims." |