Tuesday 9 June 2009

'Postcode lottery' for rape convictions in the UK

Rape 'postcode lottery' still exists in UK

The Fawcett Society has said there is a growing gap in rape conviction rates between different police forces across the country.

In some areas you are 11 times more likely to secure a conviction than in others, according the the group's report.

In 2007, nearly 20% of rape accusations in Cleveland resulted in guilty verdicts, compared to just 1 in 60 in Dorset.

The report also claims that in 16 out of 42 police force areas in the UK, rape conviction rates fell "worryingly" between 2006 and 2007.