United Kingdom: Government apologizes for 'letting down' thousands of rape victims

The British government apologized on Friday for "dropping" for years "thousands" of rape victims, saying it was "deeply ashamed" that the number of convictions of sexual assailants and rapists is at an all-time low and promising to remedy the situation.

According to the latest figures from the prosecutor's office, 1,439 suspects were convicted of rape or sexual assault last year in England and Wales, the lowest level on record since this data was collected.

This is also a decrease of 1,925 convictions from the previous year, even as complaints of rape against adults have almost doubled since 2015-2016.

“These are trends we are deeply ashamed of.

Rape victims have been left behind "and" thousands of victims have been left without justice, "Home Secretary Priti Patel and Justice Minister Robert Buckland said in a report aimed at improving the situation.

Thank you to those working to transform how the justice system tackles rape, as set out in the Rape Review published today.

HMG's plan aims to deliver changes victims deserve.

V good work by @MoJGovUK @ukhomeoffice @CPSUK, police & partners.https: //t.co/nw2NCfip9b pic.twitter.com/6mpoJzircL

- Antonia Romeo (@AntoniaRomeoUK) June 18, 2021

"The current situation is totally unacceptable and the government is determined to change it: we owe it to every victim and are extremely sorry that the system has come to this," he added.

Stop discrediting the victims

The report proposes a series of measures aimed at reducing, by the legislative elections of 2024, the number of indictments and cases brought before the courts to their 2016 levels. Among them, a pilot project aimed at reducing counter- charges. interviews of victims in court - preferring pre-recorded interviews - and recognition at the national level that evidence concerning the victim should only be used for the investigation if it is relevant.

Robert Buckland wants to move away from "the obsessive emphasis on the credibility of the victim", with the report claiming to instead focus on the suspect's past, in order to "ensure that decision-making is based on evidence, rather only on subjective judgments concerning the credibility of the victim ”.

Associations and activists have generally welcomed the apology, but are concerned about "whether what has been announced today will be sufficient," said a spokeswoman for Rape Crisis England and Wales.

“Some elements of the report are encouraging, but it is difficult to identify major commitments that will radically and quickly improve the experience that victims have of the justice system,” added another spokesperson.

"This is a missed opportunity to create the fundamental changes required to make the system fit for purpose."

- Government apologises for systemic failings on rape: leading women's groups disappointed with lack of ambition in plans to address themhttps: //t.co/yDmoqBsxm3 pic.twitter.com/WzFel1eb0y

- Rape Crisis England & Wales (@RapeCrisisEandW) June 17, 2021

In the UK, authorities estimate that 128,000 people are victims of rape or attempted rape each year, but only 3% of reported cases resulted in a charge in 2019-2020. A figure that rose to 13% in 2015-2016.