Government Slammed Over UK's "moral collapse"

The Conservative Party is pledging tougher sentences for rapists, as David Cameron slams the Government over society's "moral collapse".

Jail terms for those found guilty of rape have on average fallen to less than seven years, and according to the British Crime Survey, one in every 20 British women has been the victim of rape.

However, at least 75 per cent of these incidents are never reported, and only a tiny proportion of those actually result in a conviction.

Mr Cameron will claim offenders increasingly think they can "get away with it" and will unveil new research suggesting England and Wales have the lowest conviction rate of any European country - at just 5.7 per cent.

He will say: "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 tell the Conservative Women's Organisation conference in central London that Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert is to carry out a review of punishments for rape to ensure they are "proportionate to the crime".

Additionally, ways of making it less harrowing for victims to testify in court will also be examined.

Calling for "widespread cultural change", Mr Cameron will also warn that society has become increasingly "sexualised" over the past decade - during which time treating women as sex objects has become viewed as "cool".

He will say: "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.

"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."

He will add: "How can any civilised country accept these facts?"

Indeed, how can any civilised country accept these facts? Mr Cameron is right to point to the increasing sexualisation of our society, the general moral collapse of the nation, and the need for "widespread cultural change."

It remains to be seen whether or not this is mere rhetoric. The facts are the facts, and nothing short of a thorough root and branch reform will address this devastating problem.

Society should never tolerate weak, meaningless, short jail terms for rapists. Only the reinstatement of the death penalty would deliver the justice, punishment and deterrence that is so necessary for the continuance of civilized society.