§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What statistics they have on the incidence of rape in other Western democracies; whether the proportion of such offences reported varies between countries; and whether they are able to draw any conclusions, especially regarding prevention, from such statistics as they have.
§ Lord GlenarthurComparable estimates of the numbers of offences of rape committed in different countries are not available. The number of offences of rape recorded by the police in different countries will vary depending on legal definitions of rape, the police view of what constitutes rape, and the willingness of victims to report offences. In the USA it has been estimated that 45 per cent, of rapes are not reported, although many researchers have produced even higher estimates.
Such figures as are available on rates of recorded rape per head of population in Western countries are given in the following table. Rates are high in North America, less high in Australia and relatively low in most Western European countries. If any conclusion can be drawn from these figures, it would be that this country probably does have an incidence of rape lower than some other comparable Western countries. However, we are most concerned about the problem, and I would refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave to the noble Baroness, Lady Masham of Ilton, concerning the preventive measures that the police are taking (Official Report, 4th December, col. 1304).
882WA
OFFENCES OF RAPE RECORDED BY THE POLICE PER 100,000 POPULATION (1982 or nearest available year) North America Canada 15 USA 34
Australasia Australia 10 New Zealand 12 Western Europe Austria 5 Belgium 6 Denmark 7 Finland 8 Germany, Federal Republic 11 Iceland 7 Irish Republic 1 Italy 1 Netherlands 7 Norway 3 Sweden 10 Britain and Ireland England and Wales 3 Scotland 3 Northern Ireland 5 Sources:
Interpol: International Crime Statistics 1981–82.
US Department of Justice: Crime in the United States 1983.