A landmark case in France has reignited calls for reform of British rape laws, as campaigners argue that the current statute of limitations leaves victims without justice. In France, a woman has taken her case to the European Court of Human Rights after being unable to prosecute her alleged rapist due to the country's 20-year time limit. The case has resonated across the Channel, where victims of sexual assault face even tighter deadlines: six months for common assault and three years for indecent assault.
Only the most serious offences, such as rape, have no time limit in Britain, but campaigners say that the system remains flawed. 'The law is still stacked against survivors,' said Sarah Jenkins, a victims' rights advocate. 'Many women are too traumatised to come forward within the current time frames.
The French case shows that we need to rethink our own approach.' The debate comes amid a broader examination of justice for sexual offences. In England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice is reviewing the statute of limitations for certain crimes, but critics say the pace is too slow.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, the Law Commission has proposed scrapping time limits for all sexual offences. 'This is a moment we cannot waste,' Jenkins added. 'The British public must demand a system that prioritises victims, not perpetrators.
