MORE than 85 per cent of rapes reported to police are unsolved, it can now be revealed after an investigation by this paper. 

Over the last 10 years, since January 2010 until July 31 2020, police in Oxfordshire have received 3,487 reports of rape. 

Of those, the majority - 2,585 – were filed with 'no further action'.

REVEALED: an 'alarming' amount of crimes reported to police are not solved 

One woman whose rapist was never prosecuted has now said what it is really like to report the brutal crime to police. 

Another 398 were shelved until more information comes to light.

Of the remaining 504 reports, 80 are still being investigated, two have resulted in a caution, and 422 have ended in a charge.

Below, we break down the data into areas and outcomes.

Oxford Mail:

Read more: still no arrests after violent rape near Travelodge on Abingdon Road 

Oxford

Rapes reported to police: 1,304 

Crime outcomes

No further action: 1,304 

Investigation complete, filed pending further information: 154

Caution: 1

Charge: 146

Ongoing investigation: 26

Cherwell and West Oxfordshire 

Oxford Mail:

Rapes reported to police: 1,156 

Crime outcomes

No further action: 854 

Investigation complete, filed pending further information: 129 

Caution: 1 

Charge: 151 

Ongoing Investigation: 21 

South and Vale

Oxford Mail:

Rapes reported to police: 1,027 

Crime outcomes 

No further action: 754

Investigation complete, filed pending futher information: 115

Caution: 0

Charge: 125

Ongoing investigation:  33

Total for Oxfordshire

Oxford Mail:

Rapes reported to police: 3,487

Crime outcomes

No further action: 2,585

Investigation complete, filed pending futher information: 398

Caution: 2

Charge: 422

Ongoing investigation: 80

What have police said? 

Thames Valley Police say they take every report of rape ‘extremely seriously’.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We remain committed to preventing and detecting offences of rape and sexual offences.

"We would encourage victims to come forward, where they will receive specialist support and will be treated with sensitivity and compassion. Any reported offence will be thoroughly investigated and we will always do everything possible to trace those responsible and take the most appropriate action against them.

“The investigation of such offences is hugely complex and there can be difficulties reaching the required standard of evidence, additionally some of the reports we receive might be from non-recent cases where the offender may have passed away, cannot be traced or evidence may have been lost due to the passage of time.  

“It can be hard, particularly in relation to domestic offences, for victims to come forward and report what has happened. Often they also might be reported by a third party, where the victim feels they are unable to support a prosecution of a partner or former partner.

“Thames Valley Police will always investigate fully with a victim focused approach, focusing on the needs of the victim in which prosecution might not always be the most appropriate course of action for them at that time.

 “We would encourage all victims of sexual offences to please report them by calling Thames Valley Police on 101 or if you are in immediate danger please call 999. There is also further information on our website of how to report and resources for victims of sexual offences and rape. https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault/”.