The attrition problem: The role of police officer's decision making in rape cases

Rape offences in England and Wales garner incredibly low levels of convictions. The policing stage a complaint experiences high case discontinuances. aim this research is to explore police officer's decision making rape cases how that shapes the attrition cases. method employed study qualitative interviews, with retired or serving officers, use vignettes. This found officers prioritise continue they predict be most likely reach conviction. Such predictions are guided by assessments over strength evidence cases, informed range legal extra-legal factors. An overarching prediction jury would convict case. However, participants reported find it difficult accurately verdicts, such decisions premised on flawed logic.