Convictions for violence against women and girls in UK hit record high

New figures show England and Wales witnessed an alarming level of convictions for violent crimes against women and girls in 2014.

According to the figures released by the Crown Prosecution Service, 78,773 people were convicted of violence against women, up 16.9% from figures released in the previous year.  

The cases include a wide range of sexual offences, child abuse, domestic violence and honor-based violence. However, a majority of those convicted were involved in domestic abuse (68,601)n followed by rape (2,581), sexual offences (7,591) and child abuse (7,469).

The data has also cited an increasing number of successful prosecutions. Accordingly, 107,100 gender related cases were prosecuted over the past 12 months. The majority, nearly 60% of the defendants were in the 25-59 age group. However, there were also defendants as little as 10 years old.

“I think what’s happening is that the society in terms of child protection reporting has really pushed up the number of prosecutions. The pressure on the authorities to actually address survivors’ account and children account has increased absolutely phenomenally in couple of years. So, what we are seeing now is the outcome of that pressure to get justice for survivors’, Liz Davies, Reader in Child Protection at London Metropolitan University told Press TV.  

According to the CPS, the investigation on sexual offences intensified following the revelation of   sex abuse scandal by Jimmy Savile, a former BBC radio and TV presenter. Savile reportedly abused 63 people with victims being as little as 8 years but the scandal was publicized only a year his death in 2012.   

There’s all out praise for prosecutors, law enforcement agencies and victims for their efforts in bringing perpetrators to book. “It’s clear that some progress has been made towards improving responses to this broad range of devastating crimes”, Katie Russell, a national spokeswoman for Rape Crisis England and Wales said while commenting on the report.

Based on the report, the rate of conviction has fallen to about 57%. That despite a record number of people being charged with rape.

Russell said: “The report highlights that we still have some distance to travel before all survivors of sexual violence and violence against women and girls receive the justice”.

Sarah Green, the acting director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition also said “ The increase in prosecutions shows that more women are seeking justice, with big increases for example in the numbers of rape prosecutions and child sexual abuse prosecutions.

However, some analysts say the authorities need to take more steps so that victims feel ease to come forward with their cases.

“A change is needed at every level from political and obviously at judiciary that has a major role to play and how they absolutely not listening to the voices of child victims. All structures and obstacles put in place to obstruct children evidence is the major issue and we still put children to cross examinations whatever age they are and that’s really appalling”, Davies said while talking to Press TV.

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