HC Deb 02 December 1985 vol 88 cc34-5W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received (a) about the law of rape generally and (b) about the operation of the Sexual Offences Act 1985 from (i) the city of Liverpool and (ii) the Liverpool, Riverside constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

We are not aware of having received any such representations within the last six months.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Liverpool as to his arrangements for interviewing and examining alleged rape victims; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I understand from the chief constable of the Merseyside police that interviews of rape victims are conducted by experienced and specially trained women police officers. Medical examinations are conducted with the victim's consent, by police surgeons, usually in the surgeon's room at a police station. The examination is carried out by a female surgeon if the victim so requests.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis as to his arrangements for interviewing and examining alleged rape victims; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that statements by rape victims are taken at the police station by women police officers who are specially trained for this purpose. Medical examinations are carried out, with the victim's consent, either at a doctor's surgery or in a divisonal surgeon's room at a police station. If the victim so requests, the examination is conducted by a woman doctor. The Metropolitan police plan to open a number of special victim examination suites for the victims of rape and serious sexual assaults, comprising an interview room, an examination room and shower facilities.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the working of the Sexual Offences Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

The Sexual Offences Act 1985 came into force only on 16 September. It is too soon to form any reliable impression of its effectiveness.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many persons have been arrested under the Sexual Offences Act 1985 in England and Wales to the latest date.

Mr. Mellor

There is no power of arrest under the Sexual Offences Act 1985 and no information is yet available centrally on the numbers of offences under this Act.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Merseyside as to how many persons have been arrested in (a) the Liverpool, Riverside constituency and (b) the city of Liverpool under the Sexual Offences Act 1985 to the latest date.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The Sexual Offences Act 1985 does not contain a power of arrest. Details of offences to date under the Act in the Merseyside police area are not available. From 1 January 1985 such offences will be recorded by the Merseyside police on a force-wide basis.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rapes have been reported in (a) the city of Liverpool and (b) the metropolitan county of Merseyside in each of the past five years.

Mr. Mellor

The information available centrally is for police force areas and is published annually in table S.3.1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", supplementary tables, volume 3.