Fewer than 10 people were convicted of rape in Wiltshire last year as hundreds of new offences were recorded by police, new figures show, suggesting victims are rarely seeing justice done.
The Government announced a new pilot court scheme in a bid to increase low prosecution and conviction rates across England and Wales.
The initiative means prosecutors, police officers and other staff at pilot courts in Newcastle, Leeds and Snaresbrook in London will receive specialist trauma training, with any conclusions learned rolled out across the country to increase the volume and speed of rape cases going through the system.
Rape Crisis said the courts are a step in the right direction to arrest “appalling prosecution rates” but that more information is needed on how they will work.
Ministry of Justice figures show 25 rape cases were heard in court in 2021 following investigations by Wiltshire Police, with nine resulting in convictions – up from six in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.
But 519 alleged rapes were recorded by the force last year, separate Home Office data outlines, meaning only a fraction are likely to lead to a conviction.
Across England and Wales, there were 895 rape convictions – compared to 67,125 new cases.
In Wiltshire, just 3.6 per cent of the 448 rape investigations concluded by police last year led to a charge or summons.
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