England: Increase in convictions and prosecutions for violence against women

The number of convictions related to violent crimes against women increased in England and Wales last year new figures show.

There were 78,773 convictions in the past year according to new Crown Prosecution Service figures, representing an increase of 16.9 per cent on the previous year.

Around 107,100 cases involving violence against women were prosecuted over the twelve-month period — a larger increase of 18.3 per cent on the previous year.

There were 68,601 successful convictions for domestic abuse, as well as 7,591 convictions for sexual offences and 7,469 convictions for child abuse.

The CPS report also said an increasing number of abusers were using the Internet to contact and groom potential victims.

Sarah Green, acting director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, told The Guardian that the increase in prosecutions “shows that more women are seeking justice”.

Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions, added: “Where cases meet the code for crown prosecutors, we will not shy away from taking cases forward, even when they are difficult and complex.

“Of course, this additional volume of violence against women and girls brings challenges for prosecutors not only in terms of numbers, but the type of cases we are seeing – prosecutors across England and Wales are telling me that we are seeing more non-recent child sexual abuse cases and more of the particularly complex rape cases coming forward.

“While there has been a slight drop in the rape conviction rate, we are bringing the right, although often the more difficult, cases to court as they are left to the jury to decide.

“Anyone who is a victim of these crimes should feel encouraged by this news and confident that they will be believed when reporting these crimes.”