Rape convictions have plunged to their lowest level since records began despite soaring allegations.
Campaigners fear it is becoming “effectively decriminalised” after a report showed 1,925 convictions in 2018-19, a 27% drop on the year before.
Meanwhile, allegations of rape have gone up from 35,847 to 57,882 over four years.
Slamming the 3.3% conviction rate, Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird said: “Women’s groups have rightly warned rape is being decriminalised.
Thousands of victims present and future will pay the price.” Prosecutors have been accused of screening cases where they think a jury will not convict rather than building solid evidence.
Harriet Wistrich, of the Centre for Women’s Justice, suggested a “merits-based approach” had become one where prosecutors “second guess what a jury are going to decide”.
Andrea Simon, head of public affairs at the End Violence Against Women Coalition called the figures shocking and unjustifiable.
But Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill denied there had been any changes in the way cases were assessed.
