Force 'should feel profound shame’ over rape data

Police action against suspected rapists and sex offenders has dropped sharply in Dorset over recent years, a BBC investigation has found.

Dorset Police's charge rate for rape and serious sexual offences went from 23.7% in 2014-15 to 4.9% in 2022-23.

The family of Gaia Pope - whose death prompted an inquest that heard she believed her own allegation of rape was not taken seriously - called the latest figures "an absolute scandal".

The force said its charge rate had been improving over the last year and it remained committed to bringing offenders to justice.

Data analysed by the BBC about rape and serious sexual offences found the force's charge rate - which includes charges, summons and postal requisitions - had been below the national average for most of the past nine years.

Dorset Police's charge rate for such offences dropped steadily from 2015-16, then rose in 2020-21, and fell again to 4.9% by the end of March 2023.

Data for the 2023-24 financial year is not yet publicly available.

But Dorset Police told the BBC that in the last year its "positive outcomes" related to serious sexual offences had risen to 7.9%.

Miss Pope's family said the figures should "trigger some real self-examination" by the force.

The 19-year-old's body was found in undergrowth near clifftops, 11 days after disappearing from her home in Swanage, Dorset, in November 2017.

Miss Pope had reported being raped when she was 16 - an allegation that did not lead to a prosecution - by a man who was later convicted of sexual offences against other women.

Miss Pope’s family has been calling for Dorset Police - and every force – to have a special rape and serious sexual offences (Rasso) unit, staffed by trained officers.

Miss Pope’s cousin Marienna Pope-Weidemann said the decline in action rate was "tantamount to the decriminalisation of abuse”.

"These figures should be a source of profound shame," she said.

"Investing in a Rasso unit is one way for Dorset Police to demonstrate that they are finally making this a priority and investing the resources that they need to pull their socks up."

Ms Pope-Weidemann accompanied Gaia to Dorset Police for two in-person rape evidence interviews.

She described the interviews as "enormously re-traumatising" and said her cousin's testimony was the "bravest and most heartbreaking thing" she had ever seen.

"She shook and held my hand right the way through," Ms Pope-Weidemann said.

She added: "She was so determined to give the police whatever they needed to investigate properly, because she wanted to protect other young girls from having to go through what she had gone through."

Months later, when Gaia was told the force was dropping her rape case, Ms Pope-Weidemann said the teenager was "devastated".

Dorset-based social action photographer Jayne Jackson said she believed the force's "poor" record on sex offences could deter victims and survivors reporting crimes for fear their perpetrators would not be pursued.

"We are not going to tolerate below average statistics or decreasing statistics. We want real action," she said.

Dorset Police said the higher percentage in previous years should be “set against very much higher levels of reporting” lately, which it hoped showed an “increased confidence” in police among victims.

It said it had “invested significantly” in specialist Rasso training and its detectives were required to “remain flexible” to meet demands and investigate “all serious crimes".

In recent years, Dorset Police undertook an assessment of its rape investigation processes and performances.

The data from the assessment has led to the creation of a new operating model, which teams began implementing last July, the force said.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), David Sidwick, said he raised the case of an individual rape unit with the chief constable and the situation was being kept "under constant review".

He pointed out that an individual rape unit was in operation in Dorset between 2013 and 2019, when charge rate declined.

Mr Sidwick said evidence suggested forces had specialist trained officers instead.

"Dorset were asked to do this with 23 officers – in fact, the force, because of the importance of this area, have trained 169," he said.

He added: "Since this has been done, we have seen an improvement in our Rasso performance and I am committed to continuing this good work.”

Gaia's family said it would continue to petition and campaign for change and said "sustained public pressure" was crucial to improvements being made.

Additional reporting by Jonathan Fagg and Lauren Woodhead

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