Rape claims hit record high at 184 every day

THE number of rapes recorded by police has hit the highest level since records began, figures revealed yesterday.

A staggering 184 attacks a day are now being reported in England and Wales.

Meanwhile, wider Home Office figures show that the proportion of all criminal suspects taken to court has fallen to a record low. Just 5.8 per cent of all 6.1 million crimes in 2021 in England and Wales resulted in a charge or summons – the lowest level since records began in 2015.

There were 67,125 rapes reported to police in 2021. Data from the Office for National Statistics revealed that the overall number of recorded sex crimes also hit a high in 2021, reaching 183,587.

Separate Home Office figures published yesterday show that just 1.3 per cent of rape suspects are prosecuted. More than 40 per cent of cases were closed because the victim did not support further action.

The Victims’ Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird, QC, said: ‘We must tackle the endless, endemic delays rape victims face in our courts system... These delays will severely test victims’ resolve and many will be unable to stay the course.’