A slew of new proposals from Labour comes at the right time. Confidence in the justice system has been badly shaken
A shocking series of murders of women in public places, combined with rising levels of domestic violence and a wave of reports of sexual harassment in schools and colleges, have set alarm bells ringing among all those concerned with the safety of women and girls. Protecting women from male violence, including domestic and sexual violence, has long been among feminists’ main goals – along with political rights and economic independence. Yet half a century after the first UK women’s refuge was established in 1971, progress in this and other areas has gone into sharp reverse.
The Guardian has reported extensively on the crisis surrounding the policing and prosecution of rape and other sexual offences. A combination of factors, with a flawed approach to complainants’ personal data high on the list, along with a more general deterioration in the court system due to cuts, has produced a situation in which the vast majority of complaints never get to court. In the year to the end of March 2020, 58,856 cases of rape were recorded by police forces in England and Wales, leading to just 2,102 prosecutions. In light of such figures, the delayed appearance of a long-promised “rape review” examining how allegations are dealt with is not only a failure on the part of government, but a disgrace.
