Northumbria Police Rape Cases Will Be Scrutinised
A new scrutiny panel has been set up, to look at rapes reported to Northumbria Police.
A new scrutiny panel has been set up, to look at rapes reported to Northumbria Police.
A group of specially trained volunteers will look over private police files.
They’ll mostly be looking at cases that were judged as no crime taking place, and where there wasn’t enough evidence to go to court. But, the panel will also review failed prosecutions.
It is hoped this will improve how the cases are handled.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird is hoping it will lead to an increase in conviction rates and encourage more women to come forward.
Sue Pearce from Tyneside Rape Crisis is on the panel, she said; “If somebody feels like it’s been really well investigated and then the end result is there’s not enough evidence, that’s a completely different thing.
“I think when they’re left with I wonder why the police didn’t do this, or nobody told me about this, it just chips and chips away at them.”