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 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Rape convictions falling in Wales | Rape convictions falling in Wales |
| (about 1 hour 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 less 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%. | 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. |
| There were wide regional variations across the forces in England in the 2006 figures, ranging from 2.8% in Leicestershire to 13.2% in Cleveland. | |
| 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' | '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. | 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. | "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. |
| We have to look at the whole of society - court services, the Criminal Prosecution Service, and we have to look at jurors as well John Trew, Victim Support | |
| "These figures were so low already and they actually dropped. We need a concerted effort to improve the situation." | "These figures were so low already and they actually dropped. We need a concerted effort to improve the situation." |
| Ms Campbell said more needed to be done 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. | "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. | "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." | "I think a lot needs to be done to change that culture." |
| John Trew of Victim Support Cymru called the figures "shocking", adding: "One of the most serious crimes has a conviction rate of 3% [in some areas]. | |
| "Imagine if armed robbery or murder had the same rate. It would just not be tolerated." | |
| However, he said it was not fair to blame only the police. | |
| "We have to look at the whole of society - court services, the Criminal Prosecution Service, and we have to look at jurors as well." | |
| Alexander Greenwood, a barrister who has defended many rape cases, said in his experience police were rigorous and vigilant in gathering evidence, and particularly praised officers in south Wales. |