Ellie Reeves comments on rape convictions data

Labour’s Shadow Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves MP, commenting on the latest data from the CPS which shows rape conviction rates fall, said:

“The government is failing rape victims on every front and rape victims are being abandoned by the justice system.

“Rape conviction rates have plummeted, victims are being deserted and it is clear this is a government that has absolutely no desire to fix the mess it has created, nor a plan to keep women and girls safe.”

Ends

Notes to editors

• The CPS data published on 21 October 2021 can be found here:https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/cps-data-summary-quarter-1-2021-2022

Data relating to rape offences:

• The conviction rate reducing quite considerably from 72.9% in Q1 20/21 down to 66.2% in Q1 21/22 – a fall of 6.7%
• The amount of days it takes from receipt to charge has been increasing quarter on quarter. The latest figures saw it increased from 125.4 days in Q2 20/21 to 170.2 days in Q1 21/22. This is over four times as long as all crime timeframes.
• In this quarter, there were 883 pre-charge receipts from the police, which is down 2% compared to 905 in Q4 20/21.
• The volume of suspects being charged has declined slightly from 529 in Q4 20/21 to 504 in Q1 21/22.

• Labour have set out its plan for ending violence against women and girls, and improving rape prosecution levels in its ending violence against women and girls green paper which can be found here: https://labour.org.uk/ending-violence-against-women-and-girls/