A joint review by the inspectorates of police and crown prosecutors has found that intelligence failings lead to police missing evidence of serial rapists, who may be escaping justice as a result.

The review, published on Tuesday, says that rape problem profiles, tracking all attacks in a particular area, are only being kept up to date in three out of 43 police forces, making it difficult to draw connections between attacks. It highlighted two examples which it said showed police failing to use intelligence properly. In the first, Read the full story

One of the more surprising pledges in the Coalition programme for government was: “We will extend anonymity in rape cases to defendants.” This move would turn the clock back to 1976, when the Sexual Offences Act introduced anonymity for those accused of rape. The provision was later repealed. Read the full story

“Rape is a serious and deeply damaging crime. It is unique in the way it strikes at the bodily integrity and self-respect of the victim, in the demands it makes on those public authorities required to respond to it and in the controversy it generates (it) is unique as it is an inherently lawful activity made illegal because of lack of consent. Women, men, children, and people of all ages and all social groups can become rape victims”. Read the full story

“It is a national disgrace that in 2009 rape almost always goes unpunished” writes Libby Brooks in the ‘Guardian’. “This is about systemic, institutionalised negligence. If you are raped, the likelihood is that the police won’t help you, and the CPS won’t help you. Read the full story