RAPE victims face a postcode lottery in the way they are dealt with after an attack, according to a report published today.

A women's equality group, the Fawcett Society, said latest Government figures showed only 5.8 per cent of rapes reported to the police lead to a conviction, a fall of 1.2 per cent.

Some areas of Britain have far better facilities to treat and counsel rape victims, according to initial findings from the group's Commission on Women and the Criminal Justice System.

"We found it was a postcode lottery how rape victims are treated," said Redcar MP Vera Baird QC, commission chairwoman.

The need for more Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) was highlighted.

There are just seven centres in England, where victims can be examined and forensic samples stored in case they want to wait before they report the rape.

There is only one SARC in the North-East, which is based in Newcastle and funded by Northumbria Police, but Cleveland Police are holding a meeting in September with the aim of establishing one on Teesside.

The commission called for a 24-hour rape helpline and trained police officers and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) representatives to deal with all victims of rape and domestic violence.

Members also want assurance that only trained prosecutors will conduct rape cases.

Yesterday's crime figures revealed that the number of rapes reported to police rose 27 per cent last year to 11,441, but the conviction rate fell from seven per cent in 1997 to 5.8 per cent.

"If that figure is applied to the 11,441 reported last year we are getting 664 convictions a year, which is abysmal," said Mrs Baird. "It is a miracle that women have the fortitude to come forward."