Talks tackle sex crimes

Many rapes go unreported to police

Rape councillors will be joining politicians at a conference to look at the legal issues surrounding sexual offences.

MP Harriet Harman is due to speak to an invited audience of 150 women at the University of Teesside on Tuesday.

Leading politicians from across the North East are expected to attend to hear the government's plans for improving the way the criminal justice system deals with sexual offences against both men and women.

Ms Harman will also explain how the approach has been influenced by recent national research and by the experiences of many women who have been the victims of rape.

There is a critical need for reform... and to redress the balance more fairly in favour of the complainant

Vera Baird MP

Redcar MP Vera Baird, herself a lawyer and long-time campaigner for rape laws to be reformed, is also due speak at the summit.

She told BBC Radio Cleveland: "This conference has been brought about by local people.

"There was a petition ran on International Women's Day in Middlesbrough last year which got about 1,000 signatures calling for change in the way rape is prosecuted.

"When [Ms Harman] received it, she said straight away she would come up and discuss what was happening.

"She will be able to tell us what is coming up in the Queen's speech, for instance, and things that have been done to change attitudes in the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

'No support'

Ms Baird added: "Legislatively, I'd like to see a change in the approach to the belief in consent... there are problems with showing that someone didn't believe in consent and I think steps can be taken with that.

"About 11% of rape complainants are men and they too experience problems coming forward and sustaining their complaint.

"Like women, they too do not feel the criminal justice system supports them.

"There is a critical need for reform... and to redress the balance more fairly in favour of the complainant."