Wise use of intelligence ‘key to catching rapists’

Reports of rape have soared by 26 per cent in the last three years, partly because improvements in the way cases are handled have given victims more confidence to come forward.

But inspectors found police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) still had work to do to catch offenders quickly and prevent them from striking again.

The report, jointly published by HM Inspectorates of Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service (HMCPSI), reveals that only seven per cent of police forces had up-to-date “rape problem files”, which are used to draw together information on rapes from all available sources.

Police failed to regularly check records on foreign criminals and did not fully understand how partial DNA samples could be used to eliminate suspects.

HM Inspector of Constabulary, Dru Sharpling, said: “We found that more can be done to make better use of the systems and processes in place around gathering and analysing intelligence, which will improve the service and experience of the criminal justice process for victims, and prevent crimes.

“While the service for victims is getting better, there is absolutely no room for complacency and good intelligence, the right investigative approach and targeting resources effectively are key to preventing rape and catching perpetrators.”

HMCPSI Chief Inspector Michael Fuller said: “Progress has been made, particularly in the quality of CPS charging decisions; however this is a serious crime and the Police and CPS need to make sure they do a better job of securing convictions.”

Katie Russell, a Leeds-based member of the Rape Crisis charity, said: “It is clear that efforts have been made on a local and national level.

“Certainly, the Crown Prosecution Service for Yorkshire and the Humber has been very proactive in working with the Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds centre and our other Rape Crisis centres to improve their practice for victims.

“It is important to remember that, still, about 90 per cent of rapes and other sexual offences go unreported, so our primary concern is to make sure that there is enough provision of independent support services like Rape Crisis across the country.

“There may have been vast improvements for Rape Crisis and other organisations in recent years, but there is still quite a long way to go. We certainly welcome research into the area.”