Just a fraction of rape investigations in Thames Valley end with charge
Only 6 perfect of the 1,790 offences resulted in a charge or summons
Just a fraction of rape investigations in Thames Valley resulted in someone being charged last year, new figures reveal.
It comes as the Government launches a new strategy aimed at tackling violence against women and girls, which includes a focus on prevention and improving the criminal justice response to offences that disproportionately affect women, such as rape and harassment.
A consultation into the plan was reopened following the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in London earlier this year, which reignited a national debate around women's safety.
The new VAWG strategy is published against a backdrop of poor conviction rates for rape nationally, despite the number of reported incidents on the rise.
Home Office figures reveal Thames Valley Police concluded 1,790 rape investigations, where the alleged victim was female, in the year to March – but only 112 (6%) resulted in a charge or summons.
The force dropped 1,608 investigations (90%) due to difficulties gathering evidence and 45 cases (3%) because a suspect could not be identified.
Thames Valley Police told GHR Bucks, Beds and Herts they welcome the government review and accept the importance of any allegations made to them:
“Thames Valley Police take all reports of rape and sexual assault extremely seriously. We remain committed to preventing and detecting offences of this nature and would always encourage victims to come forward, where they will receive specialist support and will be treated with sensitivity and compassion.
“Any reported offence will be thoroughly investigated, and we will always do everything possible to identify those responsible and take the most appropriate action against them.
“Thames Valley police welcome the recent Government Rape Review and HMICFRS report will be reviewing all of the recommendations and working with partners to ensure that we provide excellent levels of victim care and high quality investigations.
“We would encourage all victims of sexual offences to report these by calling Thames Valley Police on 101, or if you are in immediate danger, calling 999.
“There is also further information on our website of how to report and resources for victims of sexual offences and rape. https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault/.”
Low charge rates are seen across reports of sexual offences as a whole – Thames Valley Police charged a suspect in a sex offence case 465 times in 2020-21, equating to just 9% investigations closed over the period.
Although these figures include offences against both men and women, separate data from the Office for National Statistics shows that in the majority of recorded sexual offences nationally, the victim is female.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently apologised to rape victims across the country for the trauma and delays they have faced in securing justice, as the Government published its end-to-end rape review to tackle a decreasing conviction rate.
The review sought to identify why victims withdraw from the criminal justice process, why prosecutions have collapsed and the impact on victims.
The Victim's Commissioner Vera Baird slammed the "shameful" record, which she branded a "decriminalisation of rape".
The measures set to be introduced by the Government's VAWG strategy include a 24/7 rape and sexual assault helpline, a review of the management of registered sex offenders and a £5 million Safety of Women at Night fund.
The Government has also said it will not rule out making public street harassment, such as wolf whistling and cat-calling, a specific crime.
The Home Office figures show few harassment crimes reported to Thames Valley Police resulted in a charge or summons last year – 446 (8%) of 5,691 concluded investigations.
That was higher than the average across England and Wales, where just 6.5% of harassment investigations saw someone charged or summoned to court.
These figures include all types of harassment incidents reported by men and women, including any that may have occurred online.