Rape trial changes planned to boost convictions

LONDON - The government will unveil new guidelines for rape trials on Wednesday, such as telling juries that victims react in different ways, in a bid to increase low conviction rapes, the BBC reported.

Less than six percent of reported rapes currently result in a conviction, down from 33 percent in 1977.

One of the reasons for this is that some juries cannot understand why a woman does not attempt to escape an attack or immediately report it to police, the BBC said.

The proposals, to be unveiled by Solicitor General Vera Baird, would mean juries would be given possible explanations for victims' behaviour.

They would also be told that only a minority of attacks are carried out by strangers.

Jon Collins, a spokesman for the equality group the Fawcett Society, said juries needed to be informed about the "myths" surrounding rape cases.

"Recent studies have shown that a substantial proportion of the public thought that if a woman had been drinking that they were partially responsible for being attacked," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"Just because a woman has been drinking does not make her partially responsible. Measures that better inform juries and tackle the myths around rape are necessary and welcome."

Other measures to be announced will include allowing videotaped evidence from victims to be used in court to reduce the time they have to appear in person, the BBC said.

Statistics show that one in 20 women have been the victim of rape but less than a quarter are reported.

Two weeks ago Conservative leader David Cameron called for rape laws to be tightened saying too many men think they could "get away" with rape.