David Cameron today called for a complete overhaul of rape laws to ensure a larger number of people are convicted of the crime.

In a speech today, the Conservative leader pointed out that the the number of convictions in England and Wales was one of the lowest in western Europe, with just one in 20 reported cases ending with a man being found guilty.

He also highlighted the fact that at least 75 per cent of all rapes are never reported to the police, which the Tory leader claimed is partly due to a lack of support for female victims during the legal process.

Mr Cameron announced a Conservative review of rape sentencing to ensure those found guilty are sent down for longer, and pledged better support for rape crisis centres, which he said were "plagued with volatile and short-term funding".

He pointed to figures saying that show the UK has a 5.7 per cent conviction rate among reported rapes, compared to what he will say is 50 per cent in Italy.

"We have a situation where rapists think they can get away with it, while victims fear not being believed and wonder what's the point of pursuing the criminal process. This represents a real challenge to the British criminal justice system," he told the Conservative Women's Organisation this afternoon.

The Tory leader added that victim support services had to be improved to assist women who had been raped. "Even the rape crisis centres that have remained open - like so many other charities - are plagued by volatile and short-term funding, with funding decisions often made midway through the financial year," he said.

"As a result, these centres are forced to survive on hand-to-mouth, and often face the threat of imminent closure.

"All this has led to an appalling and tragic lack of support for the victims of rape. For many women, the nearest centre is one hundred miles away, and waiting lists for counselling can be seven months long.

"How can any civilised country that recognises the sheer emotional and psychological toll that sexual violence has on women, accept these facts?"

Mr Cameron's attempt to tackle the rape issue will be seen politically as an attempt to broaden his appeal away from areas seen as traditional Tory territory. He has recently campaigned extensively on immigration, regarded as safe Conservative ground.

Campaign groups welcomed the Conservative leader tackling the problem. Sheila Coates, policy chair of National Rape Crisis endorsed the Tory leader’s review.

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