This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8267866.stm

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Review of handling of rape cases Rape victims treatment reviewed
(about 2 hours later)
The government is launching a review of the way rape victims are treated and how their cases are investigated. A review of the treatment of rape victims by the police and other agencies in England and Wales has been ordered by ministers.
The review is expected to cover how women who report rapes are dealt with from the moment they contact the authorities through to any conviction. It will look at how rape victims are treated from the moment they come into contact with the authorities.
The BBC understands the report will not examine rape laws in England and Wales. Ministers are concerned that the conviction rate remains low despite repeated attempts to improve it.
The review's launch comes after it initially delayed during the summer, amid reports of a dispute among ministers over what it should cover. The review was delayed last month, when it was reported that ministers could not agree what it should cover.
Although the number of rape convictions has risen in the past decade, the proportion of reported rapes successfully prosecuted has fallen.
According to government figures, only 6.5% of rapes reported between 2007 and 2008 led to the attacker being convicted.According to government figures, only 6.5% of rapes reported between 2007 and 2008 led to the attacker being convicted.
Separate figures compiled by equality campaigners also show a wide variation in the performance of individual constabularies. Although the number of rape convictions has risen in the past decade, the proportion of rape allegations that lead to a conviction has fallen.
The review, to be headed by prisons reformer Baroness Vivien Stern, is expected to focus on why this conviction rate is so low, starting with how rape victims are dealt with from the moment they report an assault. Separate figures compiled by equality campaigners show a wide variation in the performance of individual police forces.
The review will look at how different agencies such as police, doctors and lawyers, work together. The review, to be headed by prisons reformer Baroness Stern, is expected to examine why the conviction rate is so low. But she will not look at the law itself.
Instead the review will look at how different agencies such as police, doctors and lawyers, work together.
Police attitudesPolice attitudes
It is also thought that it will cover the professional attitudes of police officers amid complaints from some victims that they are not properly treated. Part of the review will examine the attitudes of police officers because some victims have complained that their allegations were not taken seriously.
It comes in the wake of two major criminal cases which exposed serious flaws in how detectives investigated rapes in the London area. Two major criminal cases have exposed serious flaws in how detectives investigated rapes in the London area.
Londoner John Worboys was arrested in 2007 but released without charge. John Worboys, a taxi driver, was arrested in 2007 but released without charge.
He was then convicted in 2009 of attacking 12 women - and a further 85 have come forward to say they too were victims. The police watchdog is now investigating how officers handled the case. Earlier this year he was convicted of attacking 12 women - and a further 85 have come forward to say they too were victims. The police watchdog is now investigating how officers handled the case.
The separate case of Kirk Reid, suspected of 71 offences, has also raised questions about how police investigate sexual assaults.The separate case of Kirk Reid, suspected of 71 offences, has also raised questions about how police investigate sexual assaults.
Earlier this year, there were reports of a cabinet split over the rape review with deputy prime minister Harriet Harman reported to be calling for a more thorough investigation. Last month there were reports of a cabinet split over the rape review, with deputy prime minister Harriet Harman reported to be calling for a more thorough investigation.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Justice Secretary Jack Straw were said to be opposed, saying the review would not be finished before a general election.Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Justice Secretary Jack Straw were said to be opposed, saying the review would not be finished before a general election.
Solicitor general Vera Baird dismissed the reports, saying there was "no rift" between the cabinet ministers. Solicitor General Vera Baird dismissed the reports, saying there was "no rift" between the cabinet ministers.
Baroness Stern's report is expected to be published early in 2010. Baroness Stern's report is expected to be published early in 2010. She has described the deadline as "tight".