Rape convictions at lowest level since records compiled

[Doyoumind]

This makes me so angry when we have people being investigated and prosecuted for hate crimes that involve them simply stating their opinion.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49669760

I think rape convictions are really suffering from the bulk of communications that need to be turfed through.

Also do to some recent high impact cases, CPS ate reluctant to take on cases where the communication doesnt clearly support traditional misconceptions about rape, eg if the relationship continues after.

I strongly believe the way our legal system deals with rape needs a serious, massive overhaul. It’s quite clear from the (disgustingly low) numbers of successful convictions that the current system is not fit for purpose, as I cannot think of any other crime which has such a dreadful conviction rate. There is FAR too much emphasis on the victim’s behaviour and I don’t feel it is appropriate to have a jury trial either. I won’t pretend to be in any way a legal bod or anyone involved in the court process, so I don’t know everything, but from my perspective it seems those brave victims who do manage to make it to court are being utterly failed by the system.

As it stands, I don’t see the point in pursuing a conviction. There seems to be almost no hope of securing a guilty verdict, meaning it can’t be the deterrent it should be. I also think a wider societal conversation about what rape is would be extremely helpful, including a lot of education in schools and universities. Given the disgusting attitude on display in recent cases with WhatsApp groups set up by sports teams, I also think it would be helpful to make sure the conversation is happening there as well.

It’s the CPS not doing their job

And it’s shocking really shocking

And the police persuading you not to press charges.

I recently did jury service and was amazed at how many relatively minor (imho) cases ended up in a high court.

CPS are shockingly bad. It annoys me when I hear it's the police. The police put all evidence to the CPS and then they make the final decision. The CPS are out of touch and totally broken.

So depressing. It's so discouraging to know that I wouldn't recommend any woman to go via the court route. Despite all the changes, having watched for decades how women are treated in courts, the experience is so hostile and damaging. I have no idea what the solution is (well I do but it's illegal).

Excuse me for coming from an area where the police have been told off for discouraging reporting of rapes and having personal experience.

I am not sure that I think this is mainly caused by things that are about how we think about or deal with sexual crimes specifically. My sense is that it comes from changes in technology and the way cases are being investigated and tried as a result of these new technological capabilities. Sexual crimes have always had particular difficulties associated with evidence and so they have been particularly affected, but I think other types of investigations have also been affected.

I know its difficult to read the link if you are on a phone but the article explains the reasons why the system is failing women.

There has been a change in the way rape cases are investigated and prosecuted, and its having a negative effect on the rate of conviction, plus it is traumatizing victims.

Its illegal to demand mass amounts of irrelevant data in this way, and its inconvenient for benefits claimants to lose their phone for months on end.

Julie Bindel on this in the Guardian.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/12/rape-decriminalised-vulnerable-women-convictions-cps

So utterly depressing.

In The Times today:

Rape ‘is being decriminalised’ as convictions fall below 2,000

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rape-effectively-decriminalised-as-convictions-fall-ddvtxp053?shareToken=ca910da4366b68238f0b6c3490a0d31f

And Thunderer comment column:

Justice system is failing to tackle our rape case scandal

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/justice-system-is-failing-to-tackle-our-rape-case-scandal-93wgzjld0?shareToken=5bfa3227c55e32c552ee7a249aa02d8c