Funds plea as rape reports soar
WEST Midlands Police is alerted to on average 12 rapes every day in the region, a shocking new report has revealed.
The force is experiencing a staggering 375 reports a month.
The report highlights this figure has soared from 239 per month, on average, in 2019. And each police constable, or detective constable, is now dealing with double the workload from four years ago.
Each officer would have on average ten investigations and five court cases in 2018. Currently, each PC or DC is carrying around 20 serious and complex investigations - as well as ten court cases.
But with no specific “nonrecent provision”, cases have been deprioritised due to competing high workloads, live demand and managing current threats such as attempt murders and honour-based violence.
The report shows the “significant challenges West Midlands Police are facing”, the force’s Crime and Commissioner Simon Foster said. He is now calling for targeted investment from the Government to support the force in tackling rape and serious sexual offences.
PCC Foster said: “The criminal justice system, across the country, has been failing far too many victims of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, for far too long.
“That is despite dedication and hard work of officers and staff and others within the criminal justice system, who are committed to doing their best for vulnerable victims, in often challenging circumstances.
“The responsibility for this state of affairs, lies with central government. The brutal reality is that, for the past 12 years, we have had a government that has systematically undermined our criminal justice system.
“It has, for example, imposed reckless cuts on policing and the Crown Prosecution Service and failed to adequately fund judicial sitting days, that led to backlogs in our Crown Courts.”
This can clearly lead to “serious adverse consequences” for the service victims are receiving, alongside “significant pressures on officers and staff”, he added. A newly formed “non-recent team”, set to be implemented in February next year, has been created to handle historic cases at West Midlands Police. It is hoped this will provide “enhanced capability and capacity”, helping to “alleviate some of the current demand pressures”. The team, it is anticipated, will also enable the force to move into a “prevention, intervention and disruption” space to tackle repeat and risky offenders.
PCC Foster added: “Action is being taken to improve matters for victims, for example, there is now a target to ensure that victim phone downloads are completed and handsets returned within 24 hours and a new team of 25 officers has been created to deal with historic, non-recent cases.
“Ultimately though, the resources available to West Midlands Police, are not keeping pace with demand and by 2023, there will still be 1,000 fewer officers than in 2010. It is clear that targeted investment, to support West Midlands Police tackling Rape and Serious Sexual offences is required.”
A Government spokesperson acknowledged the “long lasting impact on the lives of victims” of rape and sexual violence alongside their loved ones as they admitted: “We know there is more we need to do.”
A statement read: “We have launched an ambitious joint police and CPS programme, Operation Soteria, to transform the way that rape investigations and prosecutions are handled and progressed, with a focus on the suspect rather than the victim.
“Total police funding has increased by up to £1.1 billion this year and as at 30 September 2022, West Midlands Police has recruited 944 additional officers as part of the Police Uplift Programme.”
The criminal justice system has been failing far too many victims of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, for far too long. Simon Foster