§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give for each year since 1976 (a) the number of prosecutions for rape, (b) the number in which there was more than one defendant, (c) the number in which the complainant had previously had sexual relationship with the defendant and (d) the number in which there was evidence of violence; and if he will give for each category the proportion of defendants found guilty.
§ Mr. WhitelawInformation on persons proceeded against and found guilty of rape is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" table S1.1(A) of volume 1 of supplementary tables 1980 for proceedings in magistrates' courts and table S2.1(A) of volume 2 for proceedings in the Crown court in 1980 and tables 1(a) and 5(a) of the Command Paper for earlier years; the figures include some offences other than under section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956, including offences of aiding and abetting and attempts. The information collected centrally does not identify separately the circumstances requested at(b), (c) and (d) but the published figures show that in recent years about three quarters of all those tried were found guilty.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations which have made representations to his Department since the beginning of the year regarding the law of rape or its application; and if he will give the number of letters received by his Department from individuals making representations on the same subject.
§ Mr. WhitelawSince the beginning of the year the following organisations have made representations on this matter to my Department either directly or through Members of Parliament:
- Bristol Rape Crisis Centre
- Bromsgrove and Redditch Labour Women's Council
- Carlton (Conservative) Constituency Party, Women's Section
- Civil and Public Servants Association, South-East London Branch, DHSS
- East Durham Women's Aid
- Edinburgh University Students' Association
- Heavingham Women's Institute
- Ipswich Women's Movement
- National Association of Women's Clubs
- National Board of Catholic Women
- National Federation of Women's Institutes
- Sheffield Trades Council
- Snodland Labour Party
384 - Trades Union Congress, Women's Advisory Committee
- United Kingdom Federation of Business and Professional Women
- Wales Women's Rights Committee
- Women Against Rape
In addition, representations from the following organisations have been transferred to the Home Office from other Departments:
- Bracknell Women's Group
- Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre
- The University of Leeds
- Women's Gas Federation and Young Homemakers (Ringwood Branch)
During the same period my Department has received 219 letters from individuals on this subject, including those transferred from other Departments and forwarded by Members of Parliament.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research being carried out in England and Wales into any aspects of the application of the law of rape, including treatment by the police of complainants and conduct of the trial, is supported from public funds; and by which organisations the research is being undertaken.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am not aware of any such research funded by central Government.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any recent advice has been given to chief constables on the procedure to be followed in dealing with cases of rape.
§ Mr. WhitelawAdvice was given in 1976, following the report of the Advisory Group on the Law of Rape, Cmnd. 6352, and is included in the Home Office "consolidated Circular to the Police on Crime and Kindred Matters", a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many police forces (a) rape is investigated by a specially trained rape squad, (b) the complainant is examined by a specialised woman doctor and (c) the woman is examined elsewhere than in the police station.
§ Mr. WhitelawI understand that no police force has a separate rape squad, but it is the general practice for allegations of rape to be investigated by or under the supervision of experienced CID officers. One police force maintains a register of women police surgeons who are available to conduct medical examinations of rape complainants; other forces have a variety of arrangements, under many of which the choice of medical practitioner depends on who is readily available and whether or not a woman practitioner is specifically requested. Complainants are always examined away from a police station if they have injuries requiring hospital treatment. Where such injuries are not present complainants may be examined away from a police station in 36 forces, but the arrangements for such examinations vary widely.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the individuals and organisations with whom he is consulting regarding possible changes in the law relating to rape.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe Criminal Law Revision Committee, which together with the Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences is currently examining the law on rape as part of a review of the law on sexual 385W offences, has invited and is receiving comments from a wide range of individuals and organisations, including women's groups and bodies representing the medical and legal professions.