Cameron to call for a tightening of rape laws (Roundup)

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Nov 12, 2007, 14:18 GMT

Leader of the Conservative Party David Cameron (L), follows British Prime Minister Gordon Brown as they emerge at the Remembrance Sunday service held at the Cenotaph on London\'s Whitehall, Britain, 11 November 2007. EPA/RICHARD LEWIS

(M&C) - Tory leader David Cameron is expected to use an address to the Conservative Women's Organisation conference to push for a tightening of current rape laws in the UK.

Mr Cameron will say too many rapists "think they can get away with it" with only one in twenty of reported cases being convicted, the BBC reports.

Calling for a "widespread cultural change" Mr Cameron will say in the speech that "Studies have shown that as many as one in two young men believe there are some circumstances when it's okay to force a woman to have sex."

"To my mind, this is an example of moral collapse," he will state.

Mr Cameron will also point out that UK compares badly in conviction rates for sexual assault cases, with other European countries claiming a rate 12 times higher.

The Conservative leader is also expected to announce a review by his party of punishments for rape to make them more "proportionate to the crime".

"The average custodial sentence handed to rapists in England and Wales has fallen over the last three years for which there is published data to around 80 months," he is due to say.

"We have a situation where rapists think they can get away with it, while victims fear not being believed and wonder what's the point of pursuing the criminal process."