Rape victims across West Yorkshire are waiting almost two months to find out if their case will go to court – double the length of time of other areas.

West Yorkshire Crown Prosecution Service takes 55.4 days on average to decide whether to take the case forward.

Only Sussex CPS took longer at 70.1 days with the average across the country being 27.1 days.

The revelations from Solicitor General Vera Baird to Shipley MP Philip Davies showed great disparities across the country with Cambridgeshire CPS making a decision within an average of 2.3 days.

In its defence, West Yorkshire CPS said building strong cases, with the best prospect of a conviction, was crucial and that can often be time-consuming.

But Mr Davies said: “These figures are deeply worrying, rape is a very serious offence. If this means we potentially have rapists out on police bail why isn’t the CPS making the decision quicker?

“It is unacceptable and dangerous to the public. It is important the final decision is right and evidence is there but notwithstanding that, I am very concerned West Yorkshire CPS is the second slowest in the country about making these decisions.

“I will be contacting the Chief Crown Prosecutor to find out why decisions cannot be taken quicker. Someone who has been through this traumatic event should not be waiting this long for a decision.

“The same is true if someone is falsely accused of rape. It is a long time for them to wait to find out if the case will be dropped.”

Sally Sharp, manager of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit and District Crown Prosecutor for West Yorkshire, said service was working to reduce the length of time by training police and agreeing procedures with them to ensure all the “relevant material” is provided.

She added: “In rape cases, CPS West Yorkshire has a higher than average guilty plea rate (38 per cent compared to 36.6 per cent nationally), a lower than average rate of acquittal after trial (18 per cent compared to 20 per cent nationally) and a lower than average rate of offering no evidence at court (eight per cent compared to 14 per cent nationally).

“CPS West Yorkshire is the first CPS area to set up a designated team of lawyers in order to provide rape and sexual offences cases with the premium service it deserves.

“We believe building strong cases, with the best prospect of a conviction, is crucial. To do that the team asks for all key evidence including medical and social services records and counselling notes, which can take time.”