A LEADING South Cheshire police officer is urging more rape victims to come forward after describing the number of successful prosecutions for serious sexual offences as "disappointing".

DCI Geraint Jones said police and their partner agencies handle rape cases with compassion and dignity, and stressed that victims have nothing to fear when reporting sexual crimes.

DCI Jones explained the number of successful prosecutions for rape falls below police expectations due to the very nature of the crime itself.

He said: "The main reason is that these crimes are seldom committed in front of other witnesses.

"Juries can have difficulty finding someone guilty when it is one person's word against another.

"That's the chief reason that we need an early report, before other evidence is lost."

DCI Jones said the early reporting of a rape often made the difference between a successful prosecution and no prosecution at all.

Although some rape allegations prove to be false, police treat every complaint seriously and handle the victim with great sensitivity.

And people who would prefer not to go straight to the police should tell friends, support agencies, their GP or a hospital.

DCI Jones said: "Compassion and dignity are key elements of the investigation.

"Our officers know it's difficult for any victim to report this type of crime.

"Our investigation is carried out by specially-trained officers and in special buildings away from the police station.

"We can't make someone who has been through the ordeal of rape or serious sexual assault feel OK, but we do take as much of the stress away as possible.

"The fact that false allegations are sometimes made should not make any rape victim feel that they will face a suspicious and hostile reception - they will not.

"The officers always approach a complaint on the assumption that it is genuine, and their training and experience enables them to sort out false stories quickly."