POLICE in Basildon and Thurrock have solved just one of 31 sex attacks in recent months – and police chiefs suggest victims need to do more to help.

The figures, recorded between April and June, also show only four arrests were made after 33 rape complaints in Southend, Castle Point and Rochford.

The statistics mean Basildon and Thurrock officers are officially the worst in Essex for solving rape crimes, with a detection rate of just over 3 per cent. The report for the Essex Police Authority, called the Serious Sexual Crime Update, has caused concern.

However, the report’s author, Det Chief Insp Denise Morrissey, said the poor number of rapes solved in Basildon and Thurrock was down to victims “leaving it too long to report the crimes”.

Her dossier stated 70 per cent of victims in both boroughs take more than three days to come forward. During that time, vital forensic evidence which might allow police to identify an attacker could be lost. In cases where victims don’t tell police straight away, the average delay is more than four months.

In South Eastern division – Southend, Castle Point and Rochford – the low detection rate was put down to a lack of officers to deal with the workload.

The division’s Serious Crime Team – which investigates rapes, violent attacks, robberies and other grave offences – has only 28 detectives instead of a full quota of 36, with another four officers expected to leave soon.

Chief Supt Glenn Caton, divisional commander for Basildon and Thurrock, urged victims to contact police straight away if they are raped.

He added: “If people don’t report this crime at the earliest opportunity, forensic opportunities can be lost.

“We will still investigate thoroughly any rapes reported to us, but anyone who commits this crime needs to be brought to justice and police need to be given every opportunity to do that.”

STAFF shortages and a delays in victims coming forward are not the only challenges police face in investigating rapes.

The Essex Police Authority report, called the Serious Sexual Crime Update, says the issue of consent and proving the victim did not allow sex to take place, is one of the biggest challenges.

The report said: “Sexual offences are often unique in that usually only the victim and suspect are present. In the absence of corroborating evidence, the primary evidential issue is often that of consent.

“In these cases, which amount to one person’s word against another, it is extremely rare for the Crown Prosecution Service to authorise a charge.”

Detectives also face an uphill struggle to solve rapes which are reported some time after the attack took place.