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| Review launched as sex offence convictions drop | Review launched as sex offence convictions drop |
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| The conviction rate for sexual offences in England and Wales dropped sharply in 2013, Ministry of Justice figures show. | The conviction rate for sexual offences in England and Wales dropped sharply in 2013, Ministry of Justice figures show. |
| Of 10,365 people prosecuted for this kind of offence in 2013, 55% pleaded guilty or were found guilty - down from 61% of those prosecuted in 2012. | Of 10,365 people prosecuted for this kind of offence in 2013, 55% pleaded guilty or were found guilty - down from 61% of those prosecuted in 2012. |
| An investigation into the decline is to be launched by police and prosecutors, the BBC understands. | An investigation into the decline is to be launched by police and prosecutors, the BBC understands. |
| The figures also show 20 people were cautioned for rape in 2013 - up by four compared with 2012. | The figures also show 20 people were cautioned for rape in 2013 - up by four compared with 2012. |
| Of these, 17 were imposed on boys aged under 15; two were for boys aged between 15 and 17; and one was on a man. | Of these, 17 were imposed on boys aged under 15; two were for boys aged between 15 and 17; and one was on a man. |
| All the victims in the cases were aged under 16. | All the victims in the cases were aged under 16. |
| Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said it was "alarming" that conviction rates for sex offences were falling at a time when the number of recorded offences was "rising sharply". | |
| She said Labour had warned the prime minister and Home Secretary Theresa May that there was a "growing justice gap" and that "more serious criminals are getting away with their crimes without facing prosecution or the courts - let alone conviction". | |
| Ms Cooper added: "It's time the home secretary took action to make sure victims get the justice they deserve." | |
| Falling conviction rate | |
| The figures also reveal that the overall number of people prosecuted for all offences has fallen to its lowest level for more than 40 years. | The figures also reveal that the overall number of people prosecuted for all offences has fallen to its lowest level for more than 40 years. |
| Last year, 1.4 million people were taken to court, fewer than at any time since at least 1970 when 1.6 million suspects were prosecuted. | Last year, 1.4 million people were taken to court, fewer than at any time since at least 1970 when 1.6 million suspects were prosecuted. |
| The decline has coincided with a rise in the use of cautions and reprimands, though the number of such out-of-court disposals has dropped steeply over the last decade. | The decline has coincided with a rise in the use of cautions and reprimands, though the number of such out-of-court disposals has dropped steeply over the last decade. |
| All crimes recorded by police are also at their lowest level for more than 10 years. | |
| The total number of prosecutions for sexual offences was up, with 988 more cases than in 2012, the figures show. | The total number of prosecutions for sexual offences was up, with 988 more cases than in 2012, the figures show. |
| MoJ statisticians said the drop in the conviction rate coincided with a rise in the number of sexual offences waiting to go to court. | MoJ statisticians said the drop in the conviction rate coincided with a rise in the number of sexual offences waiting to go to court. |
| A spokesman said: "This increase could be because of the nature of these types of cases, meaning that more time is often spent building a case for the prosecution or defence, than with cases involving other offence groups." | A spokesman said: "This increase could be because of the nature of these types of cases, meaning that more time is often spent building a case for the prosecution or defence, than with cases involving other offence groups." |
| The review, which it is understood will commence in the next few weeks, will also examine why the number of referrals of rape allegations from police to prosecutors has dropped. | The review, which it is understood will commence in the next few weeks, will also examine why the number of referrals of rape allegations from police to prosecutors has dropped. |
| Figures obtained from a parliamentary answer in October showed police sent 5,404 cases to the Crown Prosecution Service in 2012-13 but received more than 17,000 reports of rape. | Figures obtained from a parliamentary answer in October showed police sent 5,404 cases to the Crown Prosecution Service in 2012-13 but received more than 17,000 reports of rape. |