Just five convictions of rape in Dorset in 2014

Yet reports of rape almost doubled with 343 recorded in the year to April.

A detailed report has been published by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary's Rape Monitoring Group, giving figures for all 42 police force areas in England and Wales.

In Dorset there were 249 recorded adult rapes and 94 recorded child rapes in 2014/15.

There were 30 charges in the same period and five convictions in the 2014 calendar year.

Figures for the previous four years are shown in the panel below.

Chairman of the Rape Monitoring Group, Wendy Williams, said: "This data provides a starting point to allow people to scrutinise how rape is dealt with in their area, and ask important questions of the local criminal justice services.

"It does, however, need to be treated carefully. The data is collected by different organisations, in different ways and for slightly different time periods. For instance, a high number of reported rapes might indicate that victims are more willing to report rape, rather than a particularly high rate of rapes for instance."

Recorded rapes in England and Wales in 2014/15: 19,316 adults 9,949 children

Recorded rapes, charges and convictions in Dorset: (convictions are for calendar year)

2014/15: 249 adults 94 children 30 charges. In 2014 there were 5 convictions

2013/14: 136 adults 46 children 28 charges. In 2013 there were 13 convictions

2012/13: 145 adults 42 children 31 charges. In 2012 there were 10 convictions

2011/12: 118 adults 47 children 24 charge. In 2011 there were 8 convictions

2010/11: 155 adults 73 children 24 charges. In 2010 there were 12 convictions