Whitehall row derails rape law reform
Independent: Harriet Harman was at the centre of a government row last night over moves to increase the conviction rate for rape.
The Deputy Labour Leader had been preparing to announce today a review of the way rape cases are handled by police and courts. Ms Harman, who is also Equalities minister, planned to set out detailed action to raise the conviction rate, which is currently just 6 per cent. But the moves have been postponed until the autumn amid signs Whitehall is wrangling over the plans.
Ms Harman is understood to have delayed the move, accusing the Home Office of failing to come up with sufficiently radical proposals. There are also believed to be tensions on the issue between the Deputy Labour Leader and the Ministry of Justice….
