Nine out of 10 rape complaints made to police don’t result in anyone being charged with the crime .
New figures show that of 516 reports of rape during 2015/16 only 57 people were brought before the courts.
Of them only 32 people were convicted.
The number of people making complaints of rape has risen with 87 more than the previous year.
North Wales Police said rape was a high priority for the force and said the increase in complaints showed people were more willing to come forward than previously.
Yet Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Williams from North Wales Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said: “I am encouraged by the increase in reports of rape as I see it very much as an indication of the confidence in people coming forward to speak to the authorities.
“In particular we have seen an increase in reports of sexual assaults that have occurred many years ago and this is a really positive development.
“The investigation of rape is treated at the highest level of priority by the North Wales Police and the Amethyst Team is dedicated to this.”
Of the rapes reported in North Wales last year, 314 victims were adults and 202 were children under the age of 16.
The figures included offences against both males and females.
Sarah Green, co-director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: “The ongoing enormous rise in victims reporting rape to the police is stark and shows that the shame around this abuse may be declining and the desire to seek justice increasing.
“Police, courts, government and everyone in frontline services and public life should do everything to keep driving this, including speaking out against victim blaming attitudes.”
Dt Ch Insp Williams added: “We work closely with a wide variety of partners across the sectors to ensure that people affected by this terrible crime are supported to make decisions on how they want to progress, as well as assisting them in their recovery.
“On occasions, people may need support and advice outside of the police service and the wider criminal justice system, and this can be accessed in confidence on the following website www.amethystnorthwales.org.uk.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/no-charges-9-out-10-12036337
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