Just six per cent of all rape allegations reported to Warwickshire Police result in conviction or caution. This places Warwickshire well below the national average of 18 per cent.
Lib Dem councillor Nicola Davies (Leamington North), a member of the Warwickshire Police and Crime Panel, said:
“I was comparing the figures with neighbouring authorities and these stuck out like a sore thumb.
“They are shocking. The job of the police and crime panel is to look at the priorities of the police and crime commissioner.
“This needs to be a priority and needs to be on the PCC’s radar.”
In response Ron Ball, Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner, will present a detailed report to the next meeting of the Panel on 21st November. Importantly the Report will explore factors behind the figures and outline how officers are trained to deal with rape incidents and what support is provided to victims as they progress towards prosecution.
Sam Dimmer, Crime Correspondent at the Coventry Telegraph, has reported on the issue and spoken with a range of organisations working with victims of rape and sexual assault who share similar concerns: