Sexual offences

BBC Radio 4's Law in Action was broadcast on Friday, 28 October, 2005 at 1600 BST.

The low proportion of rape convictions has always been a contentious issue. And recently, the number of convictions appears to be falling.

With more police officers trained to deal with victims, increased special measures such as screens, and video links to help them at court, and a new Sexual Offences Act which re-defines consent, it is a worrying trend that few who work in this area of crime can explain.

The latest figures from the Home Office show that in 1998, 28% of the 1366 prosecutions for rape and attempted rape of adults resulted in conviction. In 2002 there were more prosecutions, some 1646, but a lower percentage, just 21% were convicted. So what is going wrong? Law in Action investigates.