Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Mildred Gordon (Labour), on Wednesday, 23 February 1994, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 59 members in total.

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COURT PROCEDURES IN RAPE CASES

That this House notes that a recent survey by the Channel 4 television programme Dispatches showed that acquaintance rape is just as violent as stranger rape but that four months' monitoring of rape cases at the Old Bailey showed that convictions in cases of acquaintance rape were only one-third of those in an equal number of cases of stranger rape; and considers that the fault lies in current court procedures and, in particular, judges' discretion to allow the defence to attempt to discredit the complainant by intrusive questioning about the complainant's life style, dress or sexual history and the absence of independent legal representation for complainants.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

COURT PROCEDURES IN RAPE CASES (672A1)

The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Norman A Godman (primary, Labour) and tabled on Thursday, 24 February 1994. It has been signed by 3 members in total.

at end add 'and for complainers in such cases conducted in the High Court in Scotland.'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

672 

672A1 

Session

1993-94

Subjects

Convictions Rape

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk