Rape: only four per cent of investigations in Notts lead to charges

Only four per cent of rape investigations in Mansfield, Ashfield and the rest of Nottinghamshire last year resulted in someone being charged.
The government has launched a new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.The government has launched a new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.
The government has launched a new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.

That is the alarming finding from data released by the Home Office as the government launches a new strategy aimed at tackling violence against women and girls.

Low prosecution rates blight the whole of the country, not just this area, and have been widely condemned as “shameful”.

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Now, Nottinghamshire Police says it is taking “significant steps to increase the number of charges”, and insists it remains “absolutely committed to offer the best support we can” to victims.

A couple look at floral tributes left at Clapham Common bandstand in memory of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped, raped and murdered earlier this year. (PHOTO BY: Chris J.Ratcliffe/Getty Images)A couple look at floral tributes left at Clapham Common bandstand in memory of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped, raped and murdered earlier this year. (PHOTO BY: Chris J.Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
A couple look at floral tributes left at Clapham Common bandstand in memory of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped, raped and murdered earlier this year. (PHOTO BY: Chris J.Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

The Home Office figures reveal that the Nottinghamshire force concluded 966 rape investigations, where the alleged victim was female, in the year to March 2021. But only 42 led to a charge or summons.

The force dropped 759 inquiries (79 per cent) because of difficulties in gathering evidence, and 107 cases (11 per cent) because a suspect could not be identified.

The four per cent rate is worse than the average of 5.3 per cent across England and Wales, where 51,667 investigations into rape were concluded but only 2,742 ended with a suspect being charged.

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The government’s new strategy includes a focus on improving the criminal justice system’s response to offences that disproportionately affect women, such as rape and harassment.

Women activists protest against the low prosecution rates of rape suspects across the country.Women activists protest against the low prosecution rates of rape suspects across the country.
Women activists protest against the low prosecution rates of rape suspects across the country.

A review also sought to find out why victims withdraw their allegations, why prosecutions collapse and also the impact on victims.

It was stepped up after the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in London earlier this year which reignited a national debate about the safety of women.

The debate found that conviction rates for rape remain poor, while the number of reported offences are on the rise.

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And the latest national figures were branded “shameful” by the Victims’ Commissioner Dame Vera Baird, whose job it is to champion the interests of victims of crime, and witnesses. She said the record of low prosecutions amounted to the “decriminilisation of rape”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson even had to issue an apology to rape victims across the country for the trauma and delays they have faced in securing justice.

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The Home Office data also shows that Nottinghamshire Police’s record for sexual offences in general is similar. Officers charged a suspect 218 times in 2020/21, which equated to just eight per cent of total investigations closed.

For harassment crimes, reported by men and women, only 340 or six per cent of 5,450 concluded investigations resulted in a charge or summons, which compared to the national average of 6.5 per cent.

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The national figures have been described by the women’s group, Our Streets Now, as "a massive wake-up call to society about the scale of the problem”.

Maya Tutton, who founded the group with her sister Gemma to end public sexual harassment, said: “Every day that goes by with action not being taken sees another young girl harassed in the street.”

Rachel Almeida, of the charity, Victim Support, said: “It is vital there is a shift from the victim-blaming culture and the poor police-treatment of victims that has contributed to dismal justice-outcomes for the majority of survivors.

"Much more needs to be done to address the epidemic of offending against women and girls.”

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Locally, Nottinghamshire Sexual Violence Support Services (SVSS) is a respected charity that has been supporting victims of rape for more than 35 years. The Chad asked the organisation to comment on the Home Office data, but it chose not to.

Nottinghamshire Police updated the figures to also take into account cases that were opened before the end of March but were concluded later. Of 986 rape investigations, 46 resulted in charges or summons, raising the rate to five per cent.

The force also made the point that it is the Crown Prosecution Service that decides which rape cases should go to court, not the police.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin issued this statement:

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“The force works incredibly hard, along with all of its partners, to investigate rape and support victims.

"Victims should never be deterred from coming forward, regardless of when such an offence occurred. We will always listen, treat you with respect and investigate allegations thoroughly.

"We also understand that the wishes of victims in supporting prosecutions can vary widely due to their individual circumstances and vulnerabilities.

"We remain absolutely committed, along with our partners, to offer the best support we can, regardless of any subsequent prosecution decisions.

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“Nottinghamshire continues to take significant steps to increase the number of charges.

"The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decides which cases should be prosecuted and is rightly independent.

"When deciding whether to authorise a charge and prosecute a criminal case, the CPS must follow its code.

"Recent national reports recognise how high that bar is, despite our best investigative endeavours.

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"National change is being driven by the government, and we will be doing all we can to play our part here in Nottinghamshire.

"We have also lobbied hard with the Ministry of Justice to facilitate a ‘Nightingale Court’ in order to help speed up the justice process.

"Thankfully, rape remains a rare crime but its impact is huge upon the victim, a fact we never underestimate.

"Offences have reduced in Nottinghamshire, and we remain committed to sustaining this reduction. We have a significant number of dedicated detectives investigating such offences.”

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Meanwhile, for the government, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I am determined to give the police the powers they need to crack down on perpetrators and carry out their duties to protect the public, while also providing victims with the care and support they need.

She promised that the government’s new strategy will “deliver real and lasting change”.

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