Half of women think that rape victims are to blame for their attack, a study has shown.

More than one in ten said that dancing provocatively, flirting or wearing revealing clothing made them partly responsible.

This blame culture is deterring victims from reporting the crime, according to the sexual assault clinics that carried out the poll.

AlarminglyM, they also found that one in three men claimed they didn't think it was rape if they made their partner have sex when they didn't want to.

Thirteen per cent of men admitted having sex with a partner who was too drunk to know what was happening.

The poll of 1,000 adults found that 54 per cent of women believe rape victims should be held accountable for their attack.

Women were more likely than men to blame victims, with those aged between 18 and 24 the most likely to judge.

Twenty-four per cent of this age group said wearing a short skirt, accepting a drink or having a conversation with the rapist made victims partly responsible.

Nearly a fifth of women thought the victim was at fault if she went back to the attacker's house, while more than a tenth (13 per cent) said someone who had been dancing in a provocative way or flirting should be prepared for the consequences.

The Wake Up To Rape report also found that 14 per cent of women believe most rape claims are made up.

Campaigners called for more education in schools about sexual violence.

Elizabeth Harrison, manager of the Whitechapel Haven, one of three Havens centres in London that help victims of sexual assault, was one of those who conducted the study. She said: 'Women look at court cases and think she was drunk, she wore a short skirt, I don't do that so it won't happen to me.

'But rape can happen to anyone in any circumstances.

'It's particularly worrying that younger women are more likely to hold people responsible for what happens to them.

'The 18-24 age group were more likely to say that engaging in conversation in a bar or accepting a drink makes them partially responsible.

'But it is this age group that are more likely to be going out doing that. We need to get the message out in schools that rape is never your fault.'

The poll also revealed that one in five women wouldn't report a rape to thepolice, with half of these saying they would be too ashamed or embarrassed. A quarter said they would remain silent if they felt they had led the person on.

The prospect of having to go to court would deter 42 per cent of women from reporting the offence to police, the poll found.

Despite repeated Government promises to bring more sex attackers to justice, Britain has the lowest conviction rate in Europe.

Recent figures indicate that only one in 14 rapes reported to the police ends in a conviction.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Yexley, from the Metropolitan Police, said: 'Although the majority of women surveyed said they would contact the police, we understand that not everyone will feel comfortable approaching us in the first instance.

'The Havens offers invaluable help and support for people who may otherwise try to cope with the immediate effects of rape and sexual assault alone.'