12 rape reports a day as system ‘failing victims’
ADOZEN rapes are being reported to West Midlands Police every day, a report has revealed. The force is receiving 375 reports a month and that figure has increased from an average of 239 per month in 2019.
New data has also revealed that each police constable, or detective constable, is now dealing with double the workload from four years ago.
In 2018 they would have, on average, ten investigations and five court cases. Currently, each PC or DC is dealing with around 20 serious and complex investigations as well as ten court cases.
The report shows the significant challenges West Midlands Police are facing, the West Midlands Police Crime and Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster said.
He is now calling for targeted investment from the Government to support the force in tackling rape and serious sexual offences.
He 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 the dedication and hard work of officers and staff and others within the criminal justice system.
“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.”
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 offenders.
“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 spokesman said: “We know there is more we need to do. We have launched a joint police and CPS programme to transform the way that rape investigations and prosecutions are handled, 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 PCC Simon Foster