Seema Malhotra MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls, commenting on new guidance on the way sexual offences are dealt with by police and prosecutors said: 

“This is a long overdue measure, and a vital start in turning around a culture where a victim of rape is less likely to be believed and is left having to prove they did not give consent. 

 “Under this government the proportion of rape cases referred by police for prosecution is at its lowest level since records began, and convictions are down, despite the number of reported offences going up. HMIC has talked about a widespread “culture of disbelief” in police forces that Theresa May has done little to address. 

“And the government has repeatedly voted against introducing compulsory sex and relationships education  in schools to teach young people zero tolerance of violence in relationship and the importance of sexual consent.“