Rapists given community sentences to ease overcrowding

Official figures have revealed that over the past three years 90 rapists have been given community sentences.
 
And the number of convicted rapists who are spared jail has doubled encouraged by Labour to help combat overcrowded prisons.

The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice also show that when rapists are imprisoned, the average sentence has fallen by more than ten per cent.

The disclosure will add to the growing concern over the low numbers of rape charges being brought – and convictions secured.

Government figures show that just six per cent of cases reported to police lead to a guilty verdict.

Campaigners claim that by giving weaker sentences, judges are sending out a message that they are soft on rape.

There are also concerns that many rape victims will be deterred by the figures and will not come forward with a complaint.

Statistics show that in 2004, 742 rapists were convicted in England and Wales. Of these, 713 were jailed but 29 were spared a custodial sentence.

Those who avoided jail included 16 who were given community sentences. The others received conditional or absolute discharges.

The following year, in 2005, 746 of 794 convicted rapists were given immediate custodial sentences. But some 32 were given community sentences.

In 2006, the latest figures available, there were 862 rape convictions but only 803 of the offenders were jailed – resulting in 59 given community sentences. Of that 59, 50 were given community sentences.

Typically, those given community sentences will have had to carry out unpaid manual work on local community projects.

But although ministers have insisted the punishment is a tough alternative to prison, many see it as far too lenient.

Last month, a National Audit Office report showed that some offenders are allowed to skip community work simply because they slept in. Others escaped because of bureaucratic failure.

The figures have led to concerns about whether women will now be deterred from making a complaint of rape. By some estimates, only around 15 per cent of rapes are ever reported to police, suggesting that up to 80,000 rapes are committed each year.

The Ministry of Justice figures also show that rapists` jail terms are becoming shorter, reversing the trend of earlier years.

In 2004, the average length of fixed-term sentences imposed on rapists was 93.9 months – nearly eight years. By 2006, that had fallen to 84.1 months, just over seven years.

Conservative MP David Davies described the downward sentencing trend as “horrendous” and said it proved ministers were “soft on crime”.