摘要：
目前在英国的英格兰和威尔士地区，强奸案正在迅速增加。但是被宣判有罪的案件数量却下降到了历史最低记录。
Rape attacks are increasing rapidly in England and Wales, but the number of cases that end in a successful prosecution has fallen to a record low.
目前在英国的英格兰和威尔士地区，强奸案正在迅速增加。但是被宣判有罪的案件数量却下降到了历史最低记录。
据美国有线新闻网（CNN）2月25日报道，英国政府估计，今年在英格兰和威尔士的强奸案实际数量将达到是2002年强奸案举报量的4倍。在2002年，英国警方共接到强奸案报案11700起。英国政府24日公布的数字表明，在报告给警察局的强奸案中，只有1/18以嫌疑犯获得惩罚而告终。但英国政府官员们向公众保证，将提高被惩处的强奸犯人数。
报道说，在向警方报案的强奸案中，最终被判有罪的案件数量只占报案总数的5.6％。这令英国政府、皇室起诉当局（Crown Prosecution Service）和警方都感到极为失望。因为在过去的几年里，他们成功地鼓励了越来越多的受害妇女向警方报案，却仍有太多的案件没能上诉到法庭。
而与此同时，一个新的强奸案犯罪趋势令人担忧。尤其是无论在乡镇还是城市里，英格兰和威尔士人都有夜间狂欢痛饮的风俗。据英国内政部的一份报告说，目前一伙男子正把目标锁定在酒醉的妇女身上，图谋对她们进行强奸及性侵犯。报告的作者乔· 洛维特说：“确实有一群人在盯着喝醉了的妇女。”
报道说，现在因喝醉酒而被强奸的情况比被迫服用了迷奸药“罗眠乐”（Rohypnol）之后被强奸的情况更加严重，前者是后者的3倍多。英国政府已经在为酒类专卖法松懈使得英国又可以全天候饮酒而焦虑。英国政府正面临终大选，强奸案增多和当街酒醉的情况使他们受到攻击。
英国政府检查了有关性行为的法律，并改变了在强奸案中“同意”的定义。政府认为，在因为喝醉酒而发生的强奸案中，受害人“同意”的能力受到削弱。英国政府希望通过改变这一定义而使更多的嫌疑犯被判有罪。但改变后的法律从去年5月份开始才刚刚生效，，所以目前尚无数字可以表明判罚率低的趋势是否已经有所扭转。 （孙亚萍）
Rape attacks are increasing rapidly in England and Wales, but the number of cases that end in a successful prosecution has fallen to a record low.
According to government figures published yesterday,only one in eighteen rapes reported to police ends with the suspect being punished, although government ministers have pledged to increase the number of convictions.
At the same time an alarming new rape trend is emerging, linked to the night-time binge-drinking culture in towns and cities across England and Wales.
According to a study by the Home Office, groups of predatory men are now targeting drunken women to rape and sexually assault. Jo Lovett, one of the authors, said: “There are people who are undoubtedly targeting women who are drunk.”
The link between excessive and heavy drinking and rape is now considered to be much more important and common than sexual attacks involving the drug Rohypnol.
The rise in sex crime and the link with heavy drinking comes as the Government faces a general election where it is on the defensive over the increase in violent crime and drunken behaviour on the streets.
The report, published by the Home Office yesterday, disclosed the latest rape figures and that some men are now trawling bars looking for drunk women to rape. It also estimated that the actual number of rapes in England and Wales is more than four times higher than the 11,700 reported to the police in 2002.
It is the fall in the conviction rate to 5.6 per cent which will cause most disappointment to the Governmen