SENTENCING GUIDELINES COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS ON RAPE SENTENCES

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That this House is deeply concerned by the Sentencing Guidelines Council recommendation that future sentences for rape be cut by 15 per cent.; rejects the conclusion that any reduction could be justified because the prison regime is now more demanding; agrees with Rape Crisis's reaction that to reduce sentences sends out the wrong message to future offenders and to victims who are trying to decide whether to give evidence in court; notes Refuge's views that this would be a backward step and believes that sex crimes should be treated more seriously in this country, not less; strongly believes that these proposals risk damaging public confidence in the legal system; and calls on the Government not to implement these recommendations which come at a time when the number of reported rapes is rising each year but conviction rates are falling.