Boris Johnson accused of insulting rape victims in the Commons

Boris Johnson was yesterday accused of describing criticism of low conviction rates for rape offences as 'jabber'.

Just 1.6 per cent of reported rapes and attempted rapes result in a charge and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said victims were being failed.

In his response in the Commons, the Prime Minister said: 'We're getting on with the job – they jabber, we jab. They dither and we deliver. They vacillate and we vaccinate.'

Labour's Jess Phillips said the comment was 'disgraceful' and demanded an apology but Mr Johnson's press secretary insisted the use of the word 'jabber' was aimed at the Opposition.

The Prime Minister gave an apology to rape victims who have experienced 'inadequacies' in the criminal justice system.

It emerged yesterday that prosecutors are trawling through rape victims' school reports before deciding whether to charge their attackers.

Dame Vera Baird QC, the Victims' Commissioner, told MPs there was an 'over demand' by prosecutors for disclosure of 'every piece' of data, including medical notes and social services reports.

Just 1.6 per cent of reported rapes and attempted rapes result in a charge, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said victims were being 'failed'

Ministers last week set out plans for a 'system and culture change' which will include focusing more on the behaviour of the suspect than the accuser to improve conviction levels.

The latest CPS figures for 2019-20 show 1,439 suspects were convicted of rape or lesser offences in England and Wales last year - the lowest level since records began, and down from 1,925 the previous year, despite reports of adult rape to police almost doubling since 2015-16.

There are an estimated 128,000 victims of rape and attempted rape a year, but only 1.6% of reported cases results in a charge.

Credit: dailymail.co.uk