North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe has pledged to tackle the county’s “woefully low” prosecution rate for rape.
According to government figures, just nine rape allegations reached court in North Yorkshire between April 2021 and March 2022.
Ms Metcalfe told a meeting this week she planned to visit the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit in Leeds to learn how North Yorkshire could improve its prosecution rate.
The unit consists of lawyers who are specially trained in dealing with allegations of rape, serious sexual offences and child abuse.
Ms Metcalfe, a Conservative who was elected commissioner last year, was responding to a question from Victoria Oldham, the Conservative councillor for Washburn (pictured below), at this week’s Harrogate Borough Council overview and scrutiny committee. Cllr Oldham asked:
“Are you satisfied with the percentages taken through to prosecution?”
Ms Metcalfe replied:
“No I am not. It is woefully low and it needs to get a lot better.”
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Ms Metcalfe said she frequently raised concerns with the Crown Prosecution Service and that violence against women and girls was one of her key priorities.
Cllr Oldham asked whether underfunding was the cause of the problem.
‘Myriad of factors’
Tom Thorp, interim assistant chief executive at the commissioner’s office, replied there were a “myriad of factors involved”, such as collecting evidence, victims not wanting to participate and being unable to locate suspects. Mr Thorp added:
“Then they have to meet evidential thresholds, which can be difficult and even if they get through to prosecution there is no guarantee they will convict.
“Our conviction rate when we get to prosecution is really good – about 80%. That’s one of the highest in the country. Once we get through we know the quality of our cases is good for those that we do take to prosecution so yes, it is about getting more prosecutions.”
Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat leader in Harrogate and Knaresborough, said she was “shocked to learn violence against women and girls is very high”.
Ms Metcalfe said she had launched a strategy to address violence against women and girls that identified gaps in provision and how to work in partnership better. She added:
“I would like more safer places and there will be investment in that going forward.”
