TONIA ANTONIAZZI MP
  • Home
  • About Tonia
    • In Parliament
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Speeches
    • PubAid
    • Newsletter
  • How I Can Help
    • Get in touch
    • Advice Surgeries
    • Wider Support
    • Office Conduct

On Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week we must recognise the epidemic of violence women face in this country.

8/2/2022

 
Picture
Last week I was humbled and privileged to open the Petitions committee debate on support for victims of stalking. 

I spoke about the struggle women are greeted with when they report instances of stalking to the police. 

I highlighted the discrepancy that if you are mugged or burgled you are not asked to provide evidence, but if you are a victim of stalking you are. In essence, if you are a victim of stalking the onus ludicrously is put on you. 

This is one of many instances where women are not being protected from violence but women are also being deeply failed by those who we would expect to support us in the upholding of the law. 


Following what was revealed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into misconduct at Charing Cross Police Station last week, how can women trust the police to take allegations of sexual crimes seriously when police officers are joking about threatening to rape each other when they are on duty?​

It's no surprise that when women approach the police for support, they are often turned away, made to feel like they are wasting police time.

Its clear as day that women are being let down by the government and the police and the latest Government figures on the prosecutions of rape paint a harrowing picture. 

The number of suspects authorised to be charged by the CPS has decreased by 46% compared to 2016.


Despite last year registering the highest number of rape and sexual offences on record, charging for those offences has plummeted. Last year a record 61,158 rape reports were made to the police. However the CPS only charged 88 more suspects in 2020/21 than in the previous year. 

Shockingly, just 0.6% of adult rape cases recorded to police result in a charge. Of the total number of rapes, both reported and unreported, just 1.5% result in a conviction.

The number of rape convictions in 2020/21 was 1,109. This is down from 1439 on the previous year and  represents the lowest number on record. 

That is in effect, the decriminalisation of rape. 

At the current rate of progress, it will take the CPS 29 years to meet their own target to return to 2016 charging levels. 

Troublingly, 61% of investigations are closed because the victim does not support further police action. That represents an increase of 4% compared to 2019.

The average time from when a rape case is referred by the police to the CPS charging decision has risen considerably from 155 days at the start of 2020/21 to 170 days at year end - over four times as long as the time taken for all crimes. 

A rape victim’s experience of the criminal justice system from report to trial completion is around 3 times as long as the average across all other crime types (2.4 years vs 312 days).

Rape victims have to wait 12 times as long from report to a charging decision compared with the average across other crime types (33 days vs 419 days).

This indicates a worrying lack of action to address the many barriers to justice facing survivors, including police and prosecutors’ myths and stereotypes around victim credibility, and discriminatory treatment of Black and minoritised women. In essence, the system is so broken that it is forcing victims out. 

Women want to feel safe & we don’t. On Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week we must recognise the epidemic of violence women face in this country.​

IF YOU HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF VIOLENCE OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS AT RISK, SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE:

Swansea Women's Aid
24 Hour Helpline
For free confidential support and advice, contact our helpline on: 01792 644683

Live fear free

Helpline open 24/7 to listen to and support victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
0808 80 10 800

HAFAN CYMRU
A charitable housing association that provides accommodation and support to women across Wales.
01267 225555

Comments are closed.

    News Archive

    January 2025
    December 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017

    Categories

    All
    Abortion
    Animals
    APPG's
    Armed Forces
    Assisted Dying
    Asylum Seekers And Refugees
    Banks
    BBC
    Cancer
    Charity
    Christmas
    Christmas Hamper Campaign
    Climate Change & The Environment
    Committees
    Cost Of Living
    Crime
    Culture
    Development
    Devolved Matters
    Education
    Employment
    Endometriosis
    Energy
    Energy Bills
    Equality
    EU
    Family
    Gorseinon
    Guide Dogs
    Health
    High Street
    International
    IWD
    Macmillan
    Medical Cannabis
    Mental Health
    Money
    Northern Ireland
    Parliament
    Pension Credit
    Retail
    Save Our Cash
    Sharing Table
    Shoplifting
    Speeches
    Sport
    Surfers Against Sewage
    Trade Unions
    Trophy Hunting
    Universal Credit
    Veterans
    Weekly Update
    Westminster Hall
    Women

Privacy policy
Promoted by David Evans on behalf of the Labour Party, 20 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0SS
  • Home
  • About Tonia
    • In Parliament
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Speeches
    • PubAid
    • Newsletter
  • How I Can Help
    • Get in touch
    • Advice Surgeries
    • Wider Support
    • Office Conduct