This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7492702.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rape convictions falling in Wales | Rape convictions falling in Wales |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The number of convictions in rape cases has fallen in Wales at the same time as it has risen in England, according to new figures. | The number of convictions in rape cases has fallen in Wales at the same time as it has risen in England, according to new figures. |
| Statistics published by equality pressure group the Fawcett Society show the conviction rate has dropped in all four Welsh police force areas. | Statistics published by equality pressure group the Fawcett Society show the conviction rate has dropped in all four Welsh police force areas. |
| In Dyfed-Powys, there is a smaller than one in 30 chance of a rape conviction. | In Dyfed-Powys, there is a smaller than one in 30 chance of a rape conviction. |
| Last week, three AMs anonymously revealed they had been raped but had not reported the crime to the police. | Last week, three AMs anonymously revealed they had been raped but had not reported the crime to the police. |
| The rape reporting figures relate to the 2004-2006 period and were obtained by the Fawcett Society following a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Justice. | The rape reporting figures relate to the 2004-2006 period and were obtained by the Fawcett Society following a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Justice. |
| Some senior police officers admit there is a culture of disbelief around rape in many police forces Sarah Campbell, Fawcett Society All four Welsh forces had a conviction rate below the UK average of 6.1%. | |
| South Wales Police saw the second biggest fall in conviction rates in the UK, down from 12.18% in 2004 to 5.9% in 2006. | South Wales Police saw the second biggest fall in conviction rates in the UK, down from 12.18% in 2004 to 5.9% in 2006. |
| Sarah Campbell from the Fawcett Society said in areas where there had been a big rise in convictions, there had been a big effort to train officers, carry out better evidence collection and provide better support for women who report rape. | Sarah Campbell from the Fawcett Society said in areas where there had been a big rise in convictions, there had been a big effort to train officers, carry out better evidence collection and provide better support for women who report rape. |
| The society wants to see best practice repeated across the UK. | The society wants to see best practice repeated across the UK. |
| 'Concerted effort' | |
| Ms Campbell said: "I think what we find very worrying is that a woman who reports a rape in Wales has a very low chance of getting a conviction. | |
| "That's completely unacceptable and it doesn't make any kind of sense that if you report a rape in one area, you get a better service than you would in another. | |
| "These figures were so low already and they actually dropped. We need a concerted effort to improve the situation." | |
| Ms Campbell thinks more needed to be done to in the early stages of an investigation to collect all the available forensic evidence. | |
| "Cases aren't taken seriously enough. Often women aren't given a high enough standard of care," she said. | |
| "Some senior police officers admit there is a culture of disbelief around rape in many police forces - stereotypical attitudes do prevail. | |
| "I think a lot needs to be done to change that culture." |