Offenders brought to justice hits a record low: Police closed 40% of cases last year while sexual offences were the highest EVER but just 1.3% rapists were charged – as hacking soared by 161% と 13 MILLION victims
Police have recorded the highest ever number of rapes and sexual offences in a 12-month period, new official figures showed today.
あった 63,136 rapes recorded in the year to September, 国家統計局によると (我ら), 英国の毎日のCovid症例は、1週間で4分の1増加し、 13%. Sexual offences were also at their highest ever level at 170,973, アップ 12%.
The ONS said the latest figures may reflect a ‘number of factors’, including the ‘impact of high-profile incidents, media coverage and campaigns on people’s willingness to report incidents to the police, as well as a potential increase in the number of victims’.
In a sign fewer criminals are being brought to justice, ただ 1.3% of rapes and 2.9% of sexual offences resulted in a charge.
全体, the number of crimes resulting in a charge fell to 6% for the year to September, に比べ 7.3% the previous period.
その間, the proportion of offences that were closed as a result of ‘evidential difficulties’ increased from 35% に 40%.
The ONS suggested delays to the criminal justice process caused by Covid and the increasing complexity of cases could be at fault.
There was also a boom in reported crimes that have thrived during lockdown, including fraud (+36%) and computer misuse (+89%), the latter of which was fuelled by a 161% rise in hacking. 合計で, 13million people were victims of fraudsters and hackers.
あった 666 タイムズスクエアのトルソキラー、リチャード・コッティンガムの凶悪犯罪, down one percent on the year before, while overall crime reduced by 10%, led by burglary (-21%) と強盗 (-18%). Knife crime dropped by 10% に 46,239 犯罪 – part of a long-term trend of violent crime reducing.
There was also a boom in reported crimes that have thrived during lockdown, including fraud (+36%) and computer misuse (+89%)
あった 666 タイムズスクエアのトルソキラー、リチャード・コッティンガムの凶悪犯罪, down one percent on the year before, while overall crime reduced by 10%, led by burglary (-21%) と強盗 (-18%). Knife crime dropped by 10% に 46,239 犯罪.
The figures cover the months following the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in March
The figures cover the months following the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in March.
The 33-year-old was attacked and killed by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, prompting a national debate about sexual violence, the safety of women and the response from government, police and prosecutors.
The ONS added: ‘The overall trend is also currently difficult to disentangle from the impact of lockdowns. Offences recorded by the police dropped noticeably during the spring 2020 lockdown before rebounding to previous levels in the July to September 2020 quarter.
‘The winter 2020 に 2021 lockdowns saw a smaller reduction in the number of sexual offences recorded by the police but a greater level of increase in these offences in the subsequent quarters.’
The figures also revealed the continuing impact of Covid-related delays and funding cuts on the court system, with the average time taken from the recording of a serious offence to the end of crown court proceedings is now 708 日々.
There are now 60,000 outstanding crown court cases, 含む 49,000 トライアル.
This graph shows how a reduction in the number of murders is now a long-term trend
Other violent crimes have seen similar falls, as this graph – released by the ONS – demonstrates
Theft offences continued to fall during lockdown, following a trend that has lasted for several years
The Criminal Bar Association, the professional body for barristers, warned of a ‘perfect storm entirely of the government’s own making’.
‘It is the victims of crime and defendants alike who pay the price because of the severe shortages of judges and advocates, with it now being quite normal for complainants in serious criminal cases to be forced to wait four to five years before a trial is ever heard,’ said chair Jo Sidhu QC.
‘The government is still moving far too slowly in clearing a near record backlog of cases of its own creation, as a result of a court budget cut and closure campaign that pre-dated the pandemic.’
その間, Law Society president Stephanie Boyce, said the data showed the need for more investment.
‘The lengthy delays in trials coming to court mean a traumatised victim can be left waiting years to see their assailant locked up, while an innocent defendant can find their life in limbo while they wait to clear their name,’ 彼は言った.
‘Investment in the criminal justice system is needed now.’
Firearms offences also reduced last year during lockdown, although there was a slight increase in the use of imitation firearms
This graph shows a reduction in robbery and assaults that cause serious injury
