For every incident of rape reported to the police in Wales last year, just 2% resulted in a charge from the Crown Prosecution Service.
According to UK Government data, in 2020 more than 2,432 incidents of rape were reported to police across Wales. However, only 54 charges of rape were brought for offences reported that year.
In addition to this, data also shows the number of court appearances and convictions for rape in 2020. However, it is important to note that these numbers relate to court appearances in 2020 rather than offences committed in 2020, explaining why there may appear to be some lag between the figures. In total, last year, there were 165 court appearances for rape across Wales, of which 121 resulted in convictions.
A leading charity has called the rate of convictions for rape in Wales "unacceptable", stating that more work needs to be done in order to make survivors of sexual violence feel more able to come forward and report their experiences.
You can see the statistics for each Welsh police force below:
"The staggeringly low number of rape convictions that have been reported across the country is completely unacceptable," said Sara Kirkpatrick, CEO for Welsh Women’s Aid.
"Survivors of sexual violence deserve to be believed and, like victims of any crime, receive justice from the systems that exist and are funded to deliver it."
Back in 2017, charity Rape Crisis estimated that only around 15% of people who had experienced sexual violence in the UK had reported it to the police. However, it also estimated that around 20% of women and 4% of men have experienced some type of sexual assault since the age of 16.
"Choosing whether to report sexual violence can be a complex choice for a survivor and the consequential navigating of the criminal justice system currently causes of further trauma - this toll cannot continue to be demanded from survivors when accountability for perpetrators of these horrendous crimes are so low," said Ms Kirkpatrick.
"Substantial, sustained work needs to be done to restore faith in the criminal justice system. We must also recognise that sexual violence happens to people of all ages and backgrounds. What justice and healing looks like will vary for different survivors and a needs-led approach is always best. This is why it is so important that specialist sexual violence services are sustainably funded, to ensure that survivors of sexual violence across Wales can continue to access life-saving, life-changing therapeutic support, regardless of if they are able to engage with criminal justice.”
Broken down by police force area, Dyfed-Powys Police had the lowest rate of charges after reported rape offences.
In the Dyfed-Powys Police force area, 338 incidents of rape were recorded in 2020, and there were three charges from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for rape. Comparing these figures, that results in an estimated charge rate of around 0.89%.
In the Gwent Police force area, there were 406 offences of rape recorded last year, and four CPS charges for rape, with an estimated charge rate of around 0.99%.
Meanwhile, in the South Wales Police force area, there were 1,092 offences of rape recorded, and 27 charges of rape, with an estimated charge rate of around 2.47%.
In the North Wales Police force area, there were 596 rape offences recorded, and 20 charges for rape, with an estimated charge rate of around 3.36%.
What the police forces had to say:
Responding to the figures, a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We currently have a number of offences which are still under investigation, which means the number quoted isn’t reflective of our final charging figure. In accordance with National Guidance, the CPS regularly review cases where police make the decision that the case doesn’t proceed to CPS.
“As a force there is focus on improving our performance, we understand the devastating impact of these crimes on our victims and the wider community. Over the next three years we will working closely with CPS on the nationally agreed action plan which has resulted from a piece of work undertaken between police and the Ministry of Justice."
Detective superintendent Martin Price, the head of Gwent Police’s public protection unit, said: “Gwent Police takes all allegations of sexual assault and rape extremely seriously. Any report of sexual assault and rape is investigated thoroughly by our officers. We’re committed to supporting victims of sexual assault and rape, ensuring that they firstly feel confident in reporting a crime to us. We also work closely with partner agencies who can provide additional support to victims, especially in situations when a victim may feel unable to make a report directly to the police."
Find out about crime levels where you live:
Detective Chief Inspector Jackie Downes, of North Wales Police, said: “We don’t just consider the charging outcome, but also the whole service we can provide victims. These figures are a snapshot in time and don’t reflect all outcomes, for example, if we are not in a position to charge someone with rape we may consider other sexual offences and charge accordingly.
“The investigation of serious sexual offences is one of our major force priorities, and we are proud to be one of the few forces that has a dedicated team of specialist investigators who only deal with this type of crime.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: "South Wales Police takes all reports of rape seriously, and urges victims to come forward to report the crime. They should feel safe in the knowledge that they will be treated with respect and dignity and that their allegation will be fully investigated."
