To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to counter inaccurate perceptions of (a) the number of falsely-reported rapes and (b) individual responsibility for the crime of rape. (321382)

The information is as follows:

(a) MOJ and HO are considering the recommendation set out in Baroness Stern’s independent review on this issue and will publish a full response to the review later this year.

The Government are working with police and CPS to ensure that every victim has the confidence to report. Guidance on Investigating and Prosecuting Rape published in June 2009 by NPIA states that officers should assume victim reports are accurate unless evidence proves otherwise. Joint ACPO/CPS support team visits will have been made to every force to support the implementation of this guidance by March 2010.

(b) The Government recently launched a new advertising campaign to challenge teenagers’ attitudes to violence and abuse in relationships. The campaign is the first part of a communications strategy announced in the Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls strategy. This can be viewed at the campaign website:

http://thisisabuse.direct.gov.uk/

A number of local areas run local campaigns to challenge attitudes on rape and in particular, those around consent. The Home Office has contributed to the cost of these campaigns, most recently, the Greater Manchester police awareness campaign “No Consent, No Sex” TV campaign in December 2009.