Use of Video Footage from Police Reports of Rape Mooted in Law Reform
Britain's much-maligned rape-conviction rate is set to be boosted by changes in the way court cases and their juries are managed. A paltry 6% of reported rapes return a conviction, compared to 33% in 1977. A team of experts convened by Vera Baird, solicitor general, is to meet next month to consider ways in which "rape myths" can be confronted. Self-reassuring coping methods jury members may unwittingly use can include convincing themselves the victim has "made it up" in order to lessen their own fear of violent sexual crime; the "it couldn't happen to me" syndrome. Katherine Rake, director of the Fawcett Society, also explains her scepticism of these projected advances in this article.
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- News and Politics, Politics, Law, Britain
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- mischabarrett
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Do England and Wales really have the lowest rape conviction rate in Europe? This report says that the statistics might be a bit skewed. My reaction is who cares whether it's the lowest or not. The fact remains that conviction rates are LOW and that is a problem that needs to be solved. I absolutely agree that rape myths need to be confronted and that rape is handled as the serious crime that it is.
