Sex crimes - Fall in rape reports is worrying

THE dramatic fall-off in the number of young people reporting sex crimes since new statutory rape laws were enacted is extremely worrying.

As many feared, figures released by the Department of Justice show the number of statutory rape cases reported to the gardaí since the change in the law is down by 65%. There were 26 reported cases in the first three months of the year, compared with just nine cases in the second quarter.

This trend follows warnings that victims might be discouraged from reporting rape as a result of the emergency legislation rushed through during the recent constitutional crisis in order to plug the loophole in the law on statutory child rape.