Just one in 20 rape victims in Kent ever see their attackers brought to justice.

These are the shocking findings of the latest research into the number of successful rape convictions in the UK.

The research has prompted calls from police chiefs and victim support groups for major improvements to the way reports are handled and investigated. They say part of the problem is that police officers may not fully appreciate the level of sensitivity required.

Around five per cent of women have experienced rape, but only 15 per cent of victims ever report the attack to police. Out of the cases reported in 2006, just 6.1 per cent end in a conviction.

In Kent, 5.5 per cent of reported rapes in 2006 resulted in a conviction – an improvement on 2003, when just 3.55 per cent of cases had their day in court, but still worse than the national average.

Mary Trevallion, Kent clinical manager of rape and sexual abuse counselling service Family Matters, said: "Rape and sexual abuse is one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can go through and when the victims go to court.

"They may have to face their attacker and be judged in the media and elsewhere. I don't think we realise the kind of support they need."

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Across the UK, the percentage of cases reaching conviction varies wildly from up to 13.2 per cent in Cleveland to as low as 3.1 per cent in Dyfed Powys, Wales.

Director of the equality campaign group Fawcett Society, Katherine Rake, said the results indicated victims faced a postcode lottery when it came to reporting a crime.

She said: "It is entirely unacceptable that the standard of service rape victims receive is dependent on where they live.

"The Government must act now to ensure that all women who experience this awful crime receive a sensitive and effective response from police.

She added: "Women deserve so much better than this."

Her sentiments were echoed in part by both the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers, who called for specialist squads to be set up in each police force to handle rape cases.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "Every force has a responsibility to ensure that every single officer who comes into contact with a rape victim is supportive and believes the victim.

"It may only take the raising of an eyebrow to cause her to lose courage."