“It is vital that all victims are treated with sensitivity and respect and that their allegations are investigated thoroughly.”

A joint protocol, created and implemented by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the police, was launched last week, setting out how to deal with all rape cases from the initial complaint to after the verdict in a trial.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Alison Saunders, and Assistant Commissioner (AC) Martin Hewitt have written to all Chief Crown Prosecutors and Chief Constables to ensure the protocol is embedded into practice across England and Wales, as the number of rape cases going to trial this year is expected to be about 30 per cent more than in 2012/13 – around 550 extra jury trials and 650 extra decisions to charge.