Figures, held by the House of Commons library and quoted by Labour, showed that despite 900 more reported rapes in 2013-14 compared to four years earlier, there were 450 fewer arrests and 70 less convictions.
Ms. Cooper criticised the Conservatives/Liberal-Democrats coalition for the figures, saying that people were “paying the price” for police cuts, with the loss of 1,000 officers in London in recent years, and suggested the reduced number of officers was having an impact on the Met police’s ability to prosecute those guilty of sexual offences.
However Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officials say that the figures are misleading, with police experiencing a significant increase in reported historical rape claims following the increased publicity associated with the investigation into charges committed by former media personalities Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris.
“The positive effect of Operation Yewtree has been a factor in the increased confidence and many of the non recent cases now reported to police relate to offenders who have since died, so a prosecution is not possible,” a Met police spokesperson said.
The number of people charged with rape by the MPS in 2010/11 was 617 and in 2013/14 rose to 779 — the MPS achieved over 1000 years in custodial sentences in that year.
Police officials also said that despite a drop in overall policing numbers, there was an increase in MPS officers who are specially trained to deal with rape claims.
“The number of officers within the MPS dedicated to the investigation of rape in London has increased by over 50 in the last year and staffing levels will increase again from April this year. We currently have approximately 1000 specially trained officers and staff working in this area.”
Meanwhile, MPS officials say a change in police practices for dealing with rape clams has also contributed to the inflated figures.
“Making an arrest is not the only way of proceeding with a rape investigation. Arrest statistics have been affected by a change in the way police deal with suspects under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act which means that the number of interviews under caution where an arrest is not deemed lawfully necessary has risen from 3 cases in 2011/12 to 357 cases in 2013/14.
“A number of rape victims choose not to pursue a criminal justice outcome but decide to formally report the crime. Some people subsequently withdraw their support for the prosecution. However, the welfare of the victim is of paramount importance and their wishes are always taken into consideration,” spokesperson said.
