Shropshire Star

Shropshire crime shock: Thousands of cases dropped because victims don't want to press charges

Almost half of investigations where West Mercia Police identify a suspect are dropped because victims do not want to press charges, figures reveal.

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Thousands of suspects are avoiding justice, and victims’ rights groups claim this could be due to victims fearing trials or humiliation by lawyers in court.

In West Mercia, victims refused to support police action in 10,933 cases where suspects were known, between April and September 2018, the latest period that data is available from the Home Office.

This makes up 48 per cent of all investigations where officers identified a suspect.

The majority of cases shelved, 7,440 incidents, involved violence against the person, which includes assault and grievous bodily harm. Other offences dropped were rapes, robberies and sexual assaults.

The overall figure has increased by 51 per cent since April to September 2016, when 7,220 cases were stopped by victims, despite suspects being identified.

In Dyfed-Powys victims refused to support police action in 3,462 cases where suspects were known, between April and September 2018 – 39 per cent of all investigations where officers identified a suspect.

The number has tripled since April to September 2016, when 1,067 cases were halted by victims.

Victim Support said the data could show "a lack of public confidence in the criminal justice system".

Diana Fawcett, chief officer at the charity, said: “Trials can take a long time to complete – around nine months on average – and many victims feel that they want to move on with their lives without prolonged distress a trial may bring.

“Having to travel to court, which can be far due to increasing court closures, can have a financial and emotional impact and this can also deter victims and witnesses.”

In West Mercia, 40 robbery cases were discontinued in the 2018 period because the victim did not want to press charges, compared with 21 in 2016.

Information

The number of sexual offence cases which were closed, despite a suspect being identified, increased by 43 per cent over the two years.

West Mercia Police were forced to drop 202 rape cases in 2018, as the victim did not want to continue the prosecution, compared with 155 in 2016– a 30 per cent increase.

Katie Russell, of Rape Crisis, said: "Fear of the criminal justice system, of being treated like the one on trial, of harsh cross-examination in court, and of humiliation or embarrassment through the use of personal information during the trial, are certainly among the reasons victims and survivors tell us they choose not to pursue justice.

"This is linked to deeply problematic evidence disclosure practices, whereby victims and survivors are obliged to hand over their mobile devices and huge volumes of personal data, often entirely unrelated to their case."

She added: "It's clear from this data and other official statistics that the criminal justice system is currently completely failing victims and survivors of sexual offences."

A government spokeswoman said: "We are working closely with the police to look at ways to help forces better respond to reports of crime. We have also announced the biggest increase in police funding since 2010 and expect to see major progress in investigations as a result.

"We remain alert to changes in trends and new methods used by criminals and have taken decisive action to help prevent serious and violent crime taking place, through supporting community-based early intervention projects."