8th July 2010

Responding to the government’s plans to give pre-charge anonymity only to rape defendants, Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities said:

"It's deeply disturbing that the government is pushing ahead with these controversial plans which could prove so damaging for rape convictions without any formal consultation.

"Again the government's failed to give any reason why rape should be treated differently to any other crime - and chose, instead, to send out the very strong signal that women are not to be believed."