Postcode lottery as only four out of 25 rapists are convicted

Victims of rape suffer from a 'postcode lottery' over their attackers being convicted, and the conviction rate within Greater Manchester is only 6.1% according to latest figures.

This rate means that only four out of every 25 alledged rapists were brought to justice in 2007 within the region, according to the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for equality between men and women.

The conviction rate within Greater Manchester went down in 2007, from 6.6% in 2006.

Nationally the figures show that rape victims suffer a 'postcode lottery', with women who report rape more than eleven times more likely to secure a conviction for rape in some areas than others.

Cleveland has the highest conviction rate, with almost one in five reported rapes leading to a conviction, while in Dorset, less than one in sixty victims secured a conviction.

Katherine Rake, Director of the Fawcett Society, commented: “The appalling figures in most police force areas reveal that women continue to face a postcode lottery when reporting rape to the police. Rape should be treated with the same professionalism as other crimes with consistency in initial response to victims and investigation across police areas. Cooperation between the police and the CPS is also crucial if the prosecution of rape cases is to improve.

“It is a national scandal that thousands of victims have no access to justice, and frequently face a culture of disbelief and delayed responses which may lead to the loss of vital evidence. There is also patchy provision of support services for women who have experienced rape across England and Wales, particularly in rural areas. Women deserve support, safety and justice from the criminal justice system and this is not being delivered.”