This year, from 58,657 reports of rape, only 1,758 accused perpetrators were even charged with an offence, let alone convicted, which raises the question of what on earth the criminal justice agenciesare doing

What is not conveyed by these statistics is the trauma experienced by someone who has been raped, and the enormous impact this is likely to have on their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Thousands of these vulnerable victims are being denied justice, risking an even worse level of trauma. The introduction to the government’s victims’ strategy asserts that trauma “must never be compounded by an individual’s experience of the criminal justice system – they have the right to know that the state is on their side”.

While I do not doubt ministers’ real concern, we need to see a clear direction from the government to the responsible agencies – particularly the police and the CPS – to get a grip on this problem. By denying it exists or passing the buck back and forth, more and more cases will fall by the wayside, leaving victims without recourse to justice.

My role is to promote the rights of victims and witnesses, and I am clear that victims must be involved in this review at every stage; it must be thorough, independent and accountable if it is to make a real and lasting difference