UK police to prosecute foreign rape

Men who rape or physically abuse women abroad could face prosecution in the British courts for the first time under plans to be outlined by David Cameron and Nick Clegg today.

In a joint statement, coinciding with International Women's Day, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister will announce that Britain intends to sign up to the Council of Europe's Convention on Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence and incorporate it into British law.

Signing the Convent- ion will give UK police the power to prosecute crimes against women committed abroad.