‘Let a jury decide if we’re telling the truth about rape’

Ali Parker, a solicitor at Saunders Law, said he understood the call for change as “the number of cases not being prosecuted is alarmingly high”.

But he disagreed with campaigners calling for a trial for every allegation.

“Fairness requires that every accused person be given a chance to rebut the allegation before trial,” he said.

“The CPS take on cases which have a ‘realistic prospect of conviction’. That means a realistic chance that, having heard all the evidence, a jury would be sure of guilt.

He said victim testimony was one type of prosecution evidence, but there is no rule requiring any other types of evidence, or any corroboration for what the victim is saying.

“Of course, every case is different, each one requiring an independent decision.

“We don’t know whether there was other evidence in each case, either tending to support or contradict what the victim is saying.

“Having said that, the notion that over 95% of reported rapes could not have been proven in court seems extraordinary.”

West Midlands Police said it had set up Operation Soteria to transform the way it investigated rape and other sexual offences.

It had resulted in better outcomes and victim experience, the force said.

“Rape investigation is incredibly complex and we are committed to increasing our specialist capability and building capacity in order to truly transform the service we offer.”

The Ministry of Justice said: “The criminal justice system has been under enormous strain for many years – with the Crown Court caseload now the highest on record. Addressing this is a priority of the new government.”

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