Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of rapes reported to the West Mercia Police from 2013-14 to 2014-15.

Rape and sexual violence are devastating crimes. We have made protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence a key priority. We want victims to have the confidence to report these crimes, knowing they will get the support they need and that everything will be done to bring offenders to justice.

These are also under-reported crimes, and the Office for National Statistics report that recent increases in police recorded crime are likely to be due to improved recording by the police and an increase in the willingness of victims to come forward and report these crimes to the police. The number of prosecutions and convictions for rape are at their highest ever levels.

The Government continues to support improvements to the criminal justice system’s response to victims of sexual violence. We have supported the publication of data on rape for every police force in the country as a basis for improving recording and investigations of rape and ensure that guidance on investigating and prosecuting rape is implemented in every police force area. The Rape Action Plan, led by the Crown Prosecution Service and the police, is helping to ensure that every report of rape is treated seriously and every victim is given the help they deserve.