This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33261906
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Record number of prosecutions for violence against women | Record number of prosecutions for violence against women |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A record number of people have been prosecuted for offences involving violence against women and girls, figures for England and Wales show. | |
| A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) report showed more than 107,000 such prosecutions in the year to April, up 16,000 (18%) on the previous year. | A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) report showed more than 107,000 such prosecutions in the year to April, up 16,000 (18%) on the previous year. |
| There were increases in almost every category, including rape, domestic abuse and stalking. | There were increases in almost every category, including rape, domestic abuse and stalking. |
| However, figures also showed the rape conviction rate fell to 57%. | However, figures also showed the rape conviction rate fell to 57%. |
| In the report, prosecutors said a common theme was the use of the internet to contact potential victims and post indecent images and messages. | In the report, prosecutors said a common theme was the use of the internet to contact potential victims and post indecent images and messages. |
| In one case, a man used social media chatrooms to groom vulnerable women and girls, before he later raped them. | In one case, a man used social media chatrooms to groom vulnerable women and girls, before he later raped them. |
| In another case, a man sent 700 messages, mostly of a threatening nature, to a woman he had met on a dating website, after she had failed to respond to one email. | In another case, a man sent 700 messages, mostly of a threatening nature, to a woman he had met on a dating website, after she had failed to respond to one email. |
| The report also showed there were the highest ever number of convictions for domestic abuse (68,601), rape (2,581), sexual offences (7,591), honour-based violence (129) and child abuse (7,469). | The report also showed there were the highest ever number of convictions for domestic abuse (68,601), rape (2,581), sexual offences (7,591), honour-based violence (129) and child abuse (7,469). |
| Stalking and harassment prosecutions rose by 15% to more than 12,000. | Stalking and harassment prosecutions rose by 15% to more than 12,000. |
| Of these, 1,103 prosecutions were brought for new stalking offences, introduced in 2012. | Of these, 1,103 prosecutions were brought for new stalking offences, introduced in 2012. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Danny Shaw, BBC home affairs correspondent | By Danny Shaw, BBC home affairs correspondent |
| More prosecutions and more convictions are chiefly, it appears, a result of more victims having the confidence to come forward. | More prosecutions and more convictions are chiefly, it appears, a result of more victims having the confidence to come forward. |
| But the increase may also be due to the growing use of the internet, which acts as an enabler of crime. | But the increase may also be due to the growing use of the internet, which acts as an enabler of crime. |
| Prosecutors believe it's a common theme in many cases, from the paedophile grooming girls online to the stalker sending threatening messages. | Prosecutors believe it's a common theme in many cases, from the paedophile grooming girls online to the stalker sending threatening messages. |
| The "plus" side of this sinister new phenomenon is that online activity leaves digital traces which can be used by police as evidence. | The "plus" side of this sinister new phenomenon is that online activity leaves digital traces which can be used by police as evidence. |
| Nevertheless, the CPS is revising some of its guidance so that prosecutors make the best use of the law to tackle cyber-facilitated abuse and violence. | Nevertheless, the CPS is revising some of its guidance so that prosecutors make the best use of the law to tackle cyber-facilitated abuse and violence. |
| They'll be reminded, for example, that restraining orders, which are used to prevent victims being harassed in the real world, can also be applied online to stop offenders posting or replying to messages to their victims. | They'll be reminded, for example, that restraining orders, which are used to prevent victims being harassed in the real world, can also be applied online to stop offenders posting or replying to messages to their victims. |
| Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions, said prosecutors had reported a rise in historical child sexual abuse cases and complex rape cases. | Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions, said prosecutors had reported a rise in historical child sexual abuse cases and complex rape cases. |
| Of the rape conviction rate fall, she said the CPS was bringing "the right, although often the more difficult, cases to court as they are left to the jury to decide". | Of the rape conviction rate fall, she said the CPS was bringing "the right, although often the more difficult, cases to court as they are left to the jury to decide". |
| Under the CPS's Violence Against Women and Girls strategy introduced in 2007-8, it records statistics for domestic violence, forced marriage, honour-based violence, female genital mutilation, rape and sexual offences, prostitution, trafficking, child abuse and pornography. | Under the CPS's Violence Against Women and Girls strategy introduced in 2007-8, it records statistics for domestic violence, forced marriage, honour-based violence, female genital mutilation, rape and sexual offences, prostitution, trafficking, child abuse and pornography. |
| Campaigners have welcomed the report. | Campaigners have welcomed the report. |
| Polly Neate, chief executive of Women's Aid, said the figures showed "significant progress" had been made in taking domestic violence cases to court. | Polly Neate, chief executive of Women's Aid, said the figures showed "significant progress" had been made in taking domestic violence cases to court. |
| "This progress must continue until we have a system where women who experience domestic violence have exactly the same level of confidence as victims of other crimes, that they are heard and believed, the system works for them and protects their human right to live free from violence," she said. | "This progress must continue until we have a system where women who experience domestic violence have exactly the same level of confidence as victims of other crimes, that they are heard and believed, the system works for them and protects their human right to live free from violence," she said. |
| Katie Russell, of Rape Crisis England and Wales, said there was still "some distance to travel" before all survivors of sexual violence and violence against women and girls receive the justice they want and deserve. | Katie Russell, of Rape Crisis England and Wales, said there was still "some distance to travel" before all survivors of sexual violence and violence against women and girls receive the justice they want and deserve. |