A report on the joint inspection into the investigation and prosecution of offences involving allegations of rape
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
A report on the joint inspection into the investigation and prosecution of offences involving allegations of rape Joint Inspection into the investigation and prosecution of rape offences in England and Wales Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary; Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate - London Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate 2002 - 78 p. ; computer file : PDF format (598Kb) - Joint Inspections .
Introduction This inspection was conducted jointly by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI). Its purpose was to analyse and assess the quality of the investigation, decision-making and prosecution by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of allegations of rape. In doing so, its aim was to ascertain, if possible, the reasons for the high attrition rate, and to identify good practice and make recommendations to address this. Background to the inspection: 1. There are few offences that impact so severely on the victim. Whilst the number of reported rapes, 8,593, represents only 0.17% of all recorded crime, the enormity of the effect on victims and on the fear of crime amongst women goes to the heart of quality of life. As with other aspects of personal crime, there is undoubtedly substantial under-reporting. The Rape Crisis Federation of England and Wales in its Annual Report, for example, suggests that only 12% of the 50,000 women who contacted their services in 1998 reported the crime of rape to the police. 2. Over recent years the percentage of successful prosecutions for rape offences has shown a marked decline. The rate of conviction for rape, after trial, has decreased from one in three cases reported (33%) in 1977 to one in 13 (7.5%) in 1999. Furthermore, only one in five (20%) reported cases currently reaches the trial stage. 3. The increasing attrition rate has been widely publicised, as have general concerns about the handling of allegations of rape at all stages, including: - difficulties in obtaining independent evidence to support allegations; - the thoroughness of investigations; - variations in assessment of the weight of factors in cases; - the perpetuation of myths and preconceptions; - the cross-examination of victims in court, in particular about previous sexual behaviour and medical history; - the role of the prosecutor at court in relation to acting in the interests of justice and taking into account the interests of the victim; - increase in "drug induced" offences; and - increase in acquaintance rape offences. 4. There have also been government initiatives, such as the policy paper "Living Without Fear" and proposals for the overhaul of sexual offences in England and Wales ("Setting the boundaries - reforming the law on sex offences"). 5. It was against this background of increasing concerns that we agreed a joint inspection, in an attempt to identify causes of the increasing attrition.
xxk
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
JUSTICE
POLICE PROCEDURES
POLICY
RAPE
WOMEN
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
A report on the joint inspection into the investigation and prosecution of offences involving allegations of rape Joint Inspection into the investigation and prosecution of rape offences in England and Wales Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary; Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate - London Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate 2002 - 78 p. ; computer file : PDF format (598Kb) - Joint Inspections .
Introduction This inspection was conducted jointly by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI). Its purpose was to analyse and assess the quality of the investigation, decision-making and prosecution by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of allegations of rape. In doing so, its aim was to ascertain, if possible, the reasons for the high attrition rate, and to identify good practice and make recommendations to address this. Background to the inspection: 1. There are few offences that impact so severely on the victim. Whilst the number of reported rapes, 8,593, represents only 0.17% of all recorded crime, the enormity of the effect on victims and on the fear of crime amongst women goes to the heart of quality of life. As with other aspects of personal crime, there is undoubtedly substantial under-reporting. The Rape Crisis Federation of England and Wales in its Annual Report, for example, suggests that only 12% of the 50,000 women who contacted their services in 1998 reported the crime of rape to the police. 2. Over recent years the percentage of successful prosecutions for rape offences has shown a marked decline. The rate of conviction for rape, after trial, has decreased from one in three cases reported (33%) in 1977 to one in 13 (7.5%) in 1999. Furthermore, only one in five (20%) reported cases currently reaches the trial stage. 3. The increasing attrition rate has been widely publicised, as have general concerns about the handling of allegations of rape at all stages, including: - difficulties in obtaining independent evidence to support allegations; - the thoroughness of investigations; - variations in assessment of the weight of factors in cases; - the perpetuation of myths and preconceptions; - the cross-examination of victims in court, in particular about previous sexual behaviour and medical history; - the role of the prosecutor at court in relation to acting in the interests of justice and taking into account the interests of the victim; - increase in "drug induced" offences; and - increase in acquaintance rape offences. 4. There have also been government initiatives, such as the policy paper "Living Without Fear" and proposals for the overhaul of sexual offences in England and Wales ("Setting the boundaries - reforming the law on sex offences"). 5. It was against this background of increasing concerns that we agreed a joint inspection, in an attempt to identify causes of the increasing attrition.
xxk
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
JUSTICE
POLICE PROCEDURES
POLICY
RAPE
WOMEN
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE