People suspected of crimes including murder and rape are increasingly being charged by post, figures suggest.
Last year Britain’s biggest police force sent 12 suspects letters telling them they would be tried for murder, an increase of seven compared with the previous year. In 2017 two were sent. The Metropolitan Police also issued postal charges to 91 people suspected of rape in 2019 — more than double the previous year’s figure of 43. Letters were also sent to 414 people charging them with sex offences.
Dame Vera Baird, QC, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, said the figures were “deeply concerning for victims and for society”. A senior solicitor said charging a suspect with murder by post simply gave them time to go on
