Rape charges triple after police overhaul

A SCHEME to overhaul the investigation of sex crimes has resulted in a three-fold increase in rape suspects being brought before the courts, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Five forces have implemented the Operation Soteria review, which makes a number of recommendations including for investigations to focus on the suspect’s behaviour rather than that of the victim.

They include Avon and Somerset Police which for the three months to June had a charging rate of 10.6 per cent – more than treble the three per cent for 2019. The reforms are set to be broadened to 14 police forces by March next year with a full roll-out anticipated by June 2023.

But campaigners have warned over the scale of the crisis facing police forces and called for reforms to be implemented more quickly.

Jayne Butler, of Rape Crisis England and Wales, said: ‘We have long been supportive of Operation Soteria and it is disappointing that the results of this important work have not been shared more widely and transparently – as well as comprehensively.

‘The situation around policing and prosecuting of rape and serious sexual assault is dire.

‘When Operation Soteria is making such an impact, then we must ask why is this still not being expanded to all police forces immediately?’

Police and prosecutors have faced fierce criticism for failing to get a grip on rape offences with reports running at a record high of 70,330 in the year to March but with only 1.3 per cent resulting in a charge.

And since 2015-16 prosecutions and convictions for adult rape offences have dropped by 59 per cent and 47 per cent respectively.