Conviction rates have doubled for rape in the last year ....

TBE - yes I agree that it is a small sample size in comparison to the 'old' charges. Taking away the need for corroborative evidence will also improve things - looks a postive way forward in my view.

young mother - your first article is focusing on the Cadder ruling, which had a major impact on all crimes going to Court. Something groundbreaking like that cannot be accounted for. Where once an accused person whilst being interviewed by the police admits to the crime and this could be used in the case against them, thereafter the Cadder ruling comes in and wipes all this evidence out. You can't account for that sort of change in the law. I haven't read your second link yet, but I will. So don't you think broadening the definition is a great thing?

With the old Common Law crime of Rape it was very narrow and specifc eg the penetration of the vagina by a penis - it now includes the penetration of the vagina, anus and mouth. It is also not now only female's that can be raped. The crime of rape now exists equally if the victim is male. Previoulsy if penetration of the mouth/anus would constitute a charge of a lesser sexual assault therefore a lower sentence.

But the biggest change which I think would alter the number of victims reporting the crime in the first place is the aspect of consent.
It could previously be argued by the offender that the victim had given their consent prior to act but because they were affected by drink or drugs they were unable to recall. However, now, free consent has to be given and the excuse that the victim is so drunk is no longer accepted. The act of having sex with a person who is so drunk and unable to consent or not is now acknowledged as having NO consent. Therefore commiting the act of rape.

I just think this should be better communicated to the public and would hopefully reduce the number of incidents that occur (ie it is no longer an argument of one person against the other over whether or not consent was given) and encourage more victims to report these incidents.