Ministers ‘ashamed’ of failure to prosecute rape

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing June 18, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Thousands of rape victims have been [denied justice]( because of failings by police and prosecutors, the government has admitted. Only 1.6 per cent of rapes recorded by the police are currently prosecuted in England and Wales - the lowest proportion for any crime. The home secretary, justice secretary and attorney general said they were “deeply ashamed” of plummeting rape prosecutions after figures fell to record lows. “The vast majority of victims do not see the crime against them charged and reach a court. One in two victims withdraw from rape investigations,” a joint statement said. “These are trends of which we are deeply ashamed. Victims of rape are being failed. Thousands of victims have gone without justice. But this isn’t just about numbers - every instance involves a real person who has suffered a truly terrible crime.” The Lib Dems have overturned a large Tory majority to [win the Chesham and Amersham by-election](, claiming a seat that had been a Conservative stronghold for decades. The result sees Lib Dem Sarah Green become the country’s newest MP, taking 56.7 per cent of the vote to secure a majority of 8,028 over the second-placed Tories. The Lib Dem victory “sends a shockwave through British politics”, said the party’s leader Ed Davey, exposing the potential fragility of Boris Johnson’s party in the “Blue Wall” of southern England. The contest was triggered by the death of former minister Dame Cheryl Gillan, who won in Chesham and Amersham with a majority of 16,233 in the last general election in 2019. At the declaration, Ms Green said the result showed “this Conservative Party has taken people across the country for granted for far too long”. The [third wave of Covid-19 cases]( in the UK has already begun, according to government advisers - who said it was possible strict lockdown curbs would have to be reintroduced at some point this year. It comes as a new study commissioned by the government found Covid infections have increased 50 per cent since the start of May - as the country struggles to combat the rise of the highly-transmissible Delta variant first detected in India. “We’re at the beginning of it now,” said Professor Neil Ferguson, the Imperial epidemiologist dubbed “Professor Lockdown” by the tabloid press. Professor Graham Medley - who chairs the SPI-M modelling sub-group of the government’s Sage panel - said it was “not impossible” restrictions would have to be reintroduced. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Husband confesses to murder of British woman Caroline Crouch]( [DUP leader Edwin Poots quits after just 20 days in job]( [UK requests delay to Northern Ireland sausage export ban]( . . Stories chosen for you - [UK asks for three-month delay to Brexit ban on sausage exports to Northern Ireland]( - [Lib Dems overturn huge Tory majority to claim by-election victory]( - [EU citizens looking for work in UK falls 36% since Brexit]( - [How Brexit complicates the post-pandemic recovery | John Rentoul]( - [N. Ireland parties ease crisis that threatened power-sharing]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News Daily Briefing email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.