Met Police: Rape Conviction Rates 'Disgracefully Low'

Tuesday, 5 October 2021 07:59

By SKY News, Sophie Morris Political reporter

Rape convictions rates are 'disgracefully low' and there is a 'problem' with violence against women, Policing Minister Kit Malthouse admits.

His comments come as Home Secretary Priti Patel prepares to make a speech on law and order on the third day of the Conservative Party's conference.

Speaking ahead of Home Secretary Priti Patel's conference speech on Tuesday morning, Kit Malthouse told Sky News the government will "redouble our efforts" to make public spaces safer for women.

The policing minister also admitted that "too many feel unsafe in the public realm".

Asked if he accepts that there is a problem in the UK with violence against women, Mr Malthouse said:

"Oh yes, I think we all accept that."

He added that this is why the government published a violence against women strategy in the summer.

Mr Malthouse told Sky News that since he has been policing minister the government has "done a lot of work in this area", adding:

"I have been leading the work in the government on the regrettably, disgracefully low conviction rates that we have around rape and sexual assault."

The policing minister said while there has been "a lot of work that is ongoing" on reducing violence against women, "we still have a problem in this country".

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