Truth or lies on conviction rates

[Not Guilty 1000]

Hi all

Been reading a lot about how conviction rates are very low and how the cps is NFAing many cases BUT I'm in a couple of forums and most of what I've seen is most cases are going to court and people being wrongly convicted. Also reading posts from this forum not many people seem to be getting NFAed. Any thoughts?

[Casehardened]

An interesting question.......

In the years I've been on this forum I can only recollect a couple of occasions where a forum member has been convicted; conversely a fair number have reported a NG verdict and countless others have been NFA'd.

However it is impossible to state that this gives a true picture as folks may understandably not wish to update their threads with bad news.

However the percentage of rape allegations made to the police which result in a conviction is a matter of public record and is indeed very low (less than 5% from memory though I will stand to be corrected on this figure?)

[Peter1975]

My experience has been much the same as CH's.

I would say that the charging and conviction rate in the various groups is either pretty much in line with the national average or far below it for those that seek help and advice pre charge/trial. The vast majority of those convicted seem to only find the groups after trial and their need for ongoing support can make them more visible and their understandable disillusionment with the system makes them more vocal. Most of the NFA's and NG's tend to be quieter and move on with their lives, leaving forums behind.

There are plenty of dancing bananas on this forum, perhaps you haven't been looking in the right places. There is lots of hope for you to hang on to yet.

[Not Guilty 1000]

Thank you both for your responses. I guess you're right, most may not update and just move on which is understandable . Do you know if all or most cases are sent to cps after investigation for a charging decision or do the police make most decisions?

From what I've been reading police seem to purposely ignore evidence and in most cases work to prove the FA is telling the truth.

[Peter1975]

Thank you both for your responses. I guess you're right, most may not update and just move on which is understandable . Do you know if all or most cases are sent to cps after investigation for a charging decision or do the police make most decisions?

From what I've been reading police seem to purposely ignore evidence and in most cases work to prove the FA is telling the truth.

Off the top of my head, roughly 80% of cases are NFA'd and the vast majority of these will be police decisions. The CPS NFA around 35-40% of cases referred to them and get their realistic prospect of conviction test wrong in around half of those they decide to prosecute.

The odds of being convicted for a rape, especially one that wasn't committed are low but much lower for those that are proactive in their defence, engage and work closely with a good legal team and seek out their own evidence wherever possible.

I think in some cases that go wrong it is certainly true that the police haven't investigated properly, they are forever judged on their performance and so there can be a natural bias toward getting results rather than have one more unprosecuted crime against them in the stats. The case of Liam Allen is a jaw dropping example of either police and CPS malice or gross incompetence but these clear examples are pretty few and far between in the grand scheme of things.

This is why it is routinely advised here to collect and curate your own evidence, especially your own account of events and the history of your relationship with the accuser if applicable ( consistency and details can be important ) but also the names of any witnesses, texts, emails and SM screenshots, and pass them on to your solicitor.

That said, often there is little for police to really investigate as such, some FA's are convincing liars and exculpatory evidence doesn't always exist. Some people have a hard time accepting this.

[Not Guilty 1000]

Yeah the Liam case is a great example. I've heard of similar cases whereby the evidence is clearly against the FA it shockingly they seek to prosecute. Sometimes I feel it may just be the luck of the draw I. E OIC you get...CPS and Jury. It's way too easy to cry rape these days. It takes away from the real victims