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<p>This Government has made protecting women and girls from violence and supporting
victims and survivors of sexual violence a key priority.</p><p>The most recent Crime
Statistics published on 20 October by the Office for National Statistics show that
police recorded rape increased by 16% (to 36,438) in the year ending July 2016 compared
with the previous year. The ONS state that the increases are believed to result from
an improvement in the recording of sexual offences by the police and an increased
willingness of victims to come forward and report these crimes to the police. In addition,
the Crown Prosecution Service annual Violence Against Women and Girls Report, published
in September 2016, shows the highest volumes ever recorded of charged defendants,
prosecutions and convictions for rape.</p><p>We welcome the fact that more victims
of rape are coming forward and reporting these crimes to the police. Victims must
have the confidence to report these crimes, knowing that they will get the support
they need to go through the criminal justice process and that everything will be done
to bring offenders to justice.</p><p>Section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal
Evidence Act 1999 places a statutory restriction on introduction of evidence and questioning
of complainants about their sexual history. Section 41 was introduced to protect complainants
in proceedings for sexual offences, introducing a presumption that such evidence and
questioning will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances.</p>
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