Over 4,000 child sex offenders not in jail and 'free to roam streets' since 2010
More than 4,000 convicted child sex offenders have dodged jail and been left “free to roam the streets” under the Tories since 2010, damning research has revealed.
Around 2,000 adults convicted of sexual assault or sexual activity on children under 16 were let off with community sentences, while more than 2,400 were handed suspended sentences.
It means 346 child sex offenders avoid jail each year - almost one a day - according to the Labour research.
Suspended and community sentences, which include cleaning up graffiti or picking up litter, are supposed to be given to offenders for the most minor crimes.
Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed said: “These figures will horrify communities up and down this country.
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"Victims are terrified, constantly looking over their shoulders. This is reality in Tory Britain.
Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed (PA)“The Conservatives have left dangerous child sex offenders free to roam the streets. Parents will be worried sick that the Conservatives have gone so soft on this horrendous crime.
“Rishi Sunak must come clean and explain why the Conservatives are on the side of criminals, not the law-abiding majority.
“Labour is the party of law and order, and we will implement tougher sentences for dangerous criminals. We have made it a central mission to make Britain’s streets safe.”
It comes as the party announces plans to introduce specialist rape courts to tackle violence against women and girls as rape survivor case drop-outs have more than doubled since 2015.
Some 41.6% of rape survivors are now pulling out of pursuing their case, soaring from 19.7 per cent in 2015, fresh Labour analysis revealed last night.
Meanwhile just 1.6% of reported rapists were charged in the last year.
The alarming figures come amid record court backlogs and an average three-year wait for justice for rape survivors.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “The state of the criminal justice system under the Tories amounts to a national scandal. It will rightfully be viewed by victims as a stain on our country.
“As Director of Public Prosecutions, I changed the service so survivors’ bravery was supported and the system got them the justice they needed and deserved.
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“That’s why I’ve made it the national mission of a future Labour government - to halve levels of violence against women and girls and increase confidence in the justice system to their highest levels.”
“Labour will put victims back at the heart of the system. We’ll stop victims going through the harrowing experience of waiting months, sometimes years for justice, by opening specialist rape courts to fast-track cases.
"We’ll put more police on our streets, and increase the number of prosecutors to put violent rapists and killers behind bars quickly. Protecting the public and making our streets safe will drive my Labour government.”
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