The rape conviction crisis – 1.7% of REPORTED rapes prosecuted
- Catherine Clarke
- Mar 15, 2021
- 2 min read
TRIGGER / CONTENT WARNING : RAPE
Only 1.7% of reported rapes are prosecuted in England and Wales.
In a report conducted by the Ministry of Justice it estimated that 85% of victims don’t report the most serious sexual offences to the police.
Working from this data, out of 600 potential rape victims, 100 are able to report the crime. 1.7% of the victims who reported will have their rapist prosecuted. From the 1.7%, just over half (57.6%) will actually turn a conviction, resulting in a 0.16% chance that if you are raped, your rapist will see time behind bars.
Police funding cuts, rising crime rates and a lack of faith in the justice system are all reasons cited for the fall in reports, prosecutions and convictions. Victims have expressed that they are ‘made to feel as if they are the ones on trial’ after cases collapse or dropped when they are asked for invasive information such as health records. The trauma undergone during rape can result in derealisation, depersonalization, disassociation as well as other mental health disorders which can affect memory recall, perception of time and behaviours, and may make the evidence giver appear to be a liar or incompetent in court.
The ‘rough sex’ defence has been banned as of 2020 in relation to murder cases. However Molly Naulls, a law student expressed her frustration at the system, with arguments such as the ‘victim’s previous relationships’ and sexual partners, enjoyment of ‘rough sex’ contributing to besmirchment of character and secondary humiliation after the crime. It’s also worth noting that hypersexuality is a misunderstood symptom of trauma and used against victims as proof that they haven’t been raped. The fact that ‘it’s one word against another’ also has put off her peers from reporting, and rape kits that have a timeframe of 72 hours after the attack can be inaccessible for many victims, despite being vital evidence in some cases.
Although rape is not a gender issue, false rape accusations are often used by men to dismiss women’s claims. A man is more likely to be raped than falsely accused of rape – 230 times more likely, according to the Office of National Statistics.
Charities and resources linked below. It is always encouraged to report if you can – steps on how to do so are linked below.
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