Sexual Violence
The volume of rapes prosecuted, has risen by 29%. From 3,264
charged defendants in 2006-07 to 4,208 in 2010-11. In 2006-07, 54%
of charged rape defendants were convicted for that crime or another
offence. This rose to 59% by 2010-11. In all CPS Areas, rape cases
are now prosecuted by specialist rape prosecutors who have
completed a compulsory two day training course on rape and serious
sexual offences. [Violence against Women crime report: 2009-2010,
CPS]
6.1 million women have been sexually assaulted in their
lifetime. [Povey, E., Coleman, K., Kaiza, P., Hoare, C., Jansson,
K., (2008) Home Office Statistical Bulletin: Crime in England
and Wales 2006/07]
The number of women raped every year is 55,117 (women 16-59).
[Based on a six year average from British Crime Survey (2004/5 to
2009/10)]
One in three rape victims are subject to repeat victimisation
(women 16-59). [Based on a six year average from British Crime
Survey (2004/5 to 2009/10)]
Around 1000 women are raped per week [Based on a six year
average from British Crime Survey (2004/5 to 2009/10)]. When
prevalence of repeat victimisation is taken into account, there are
around 2000 rapes per week (women 16-59). [Walker, A, Kershaw, C
and Nicholas, S. (2009) Crime in England and Wales
2008/09, Home Office Statistical Bulletin]
Around 15% of women who are raped report it to the police.
Taking into account repeat victimisation, 9% of rapes are reported
to the police (women 16-59). [Based on a six year average from
British Crime Survey (2004/5 to 2009/10)]
A woman is more likely to be sexually assaulted than she is to
get breast cancer. [New Philanthropy Capital. (2008) Hard Knock
Life]
76% of the women refugees and asylum seekers at a single service
in London had been raped. [Refugee Council. (2009) Refugee and
Asylum Seeking Women Affected by Rape or Sexual Violence]
Compared to the rest of the country, London has the lowest
percentage of successful outcomes (measured as convictions of
prosecuted cases) for violence against women offences (58% were
successful). [Crown Prosecution Service (2008) Violence against
women Crime Report 2007-2008]
Only 22% of serious sexual violence offences are brought to
justice. [Iquanta, 2009]
The police remain unaware of 87% of serious sexual assault
victims. [Home Office, Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate
Violence 2006/07 3rd edition]
It is estimated that over 50% of women refugee and asylum
seekers in the UK, the majority of who come from Africa, are
fleeing rape - mostly perpetrated by soldiers, police or agents of
the state. [Department of Health. (2000) Health survey for
England 1999: health of ethnic minority groups]
Only one in seven rapes is reported to the police; of these,
less than 6% result in a conviction (for rape). [New Philanthropy
Capital. (2007) Hard Knock Life]
97% of callers to Rape Crisis knew their rapist and fewer than
7% had reported the assault to the police. [Rape Crisis Federation,
England and Wales]
In 2002, the Metropolitan Police found that of the 175 domestic
sexual assaults recorded in London between January and March 2001,
only four perpetrators received a sentence, the maximum of which
was 14 months. [Metropolitan Police (2002), Understanding and
responding to hate crime fact sheets: Sexual assaults]
The health impact on women who have
been subject to serious sexual assault (including rape), since the
age of 16 is as follows:
- 52% had suffered depression (x 2 higher rate); 5% had attempted
suicide and 4% had become pregnant as a result of the rape [BCS,
Walby and Allen, 2004]
- chronic physical health problems e.g. irritable bowel syndrome,
backache and headaches [Campbell 2002]
- increased rates of unintended pregnancies, terminations
[Gazmararian et al 2000), and low birth weight babies (OR 1.4, 95%
CI 1.1-1.8) [Murphy et al 2001]
- lower rates of contraceptive use, higher rates of sexually
transmitted infections [Garcia-Moreno and Watts C, 2000]
- higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide
[Campbell 2002]
- women with depression are 6 times
more likely to have experienced severe combined abuse than
non-depressed women [Hegarty, 2004].
