Rape investigations backlog spark fears over justice for victims

RAPE allegations are going uninvestigated at West Midlands Police with more than 100 outstanding cases not yet allocated to detectives.

The backlog raises fears delays could lead to evidence being lost or destroyed, victims withdrawing support and rapists not being caught.

Police Commissioner Simon Foster is now seeking urgent answers from the force. He said: “This is a serious issue which I’ll be raising with the Chief Constable to understand matters in more detail.”

Human Rights and Public Law solicitor Anna Mazzola, with the Centre for Women’s Justice, said: “This is really worrying. If police are not allocating the case they don’t know the situation of the woman who’s reported the rape. She might still be in a dangerous position.”

The number of reported rapes making it to court in England and Wales has plunged by half over the last five years, while those reported to police have risen sharply.

The Government has promised to overhaul the way sexual crime investigations are conducted. It comes after ministers said they were “deeply ashamed” by a report which found only three per cent of adult rape offences assigned an outcome were “charged/summonsed”.

Now it has emerged that recorded rape and serious sexual offence cases are sitting unallocated to detectives at West Midlands Police.

The Post understands it is likely well over 150 recorded sexual offences have not been assigned to detectives within the Public Protection Unit but West Midlands Police refused to disclose the exact backlog, saying the figure fluctuated and a snapshot would not be helpful.

Superintendent Anastasia Miller, with the force’s Public Protection Unit (PPU) said: “Nationally there has been an increase in the number of serious sexual offences reported to police and this has been replicated in the West Midlands area. We are working hard with partner agencies to make sure victims of crime get the support they need and investigations are progressed effectively.

“Along with other forces we recognise much improvement is needed to ensure we pursue justice for rape victims and offenders are brought to justice, and we are working closely with the CPS on a joint action plan to deliver these improvements.”