,
Labour’s Shadow Solicitor General, responding to the news that the
CPS has announced changes to legal guidance for prosecutors on rape
and serious sexual offences (RASSO), alongside a three-month
consultation on the changes, said:
“With rape convictions now at their lowest level on record in
England and Wales, the suggested measures announced today are
welcome. Negative stereotypes and myths about rape victims
creates an environment where victims and survivors fear they will
be judged or disbelieved.
“I hope that this new guidance will be accompanied by training
for prosecutors and a clear commitment from the CPS that
improving rape prosecution levels continues to be a top priority
for the CPS.
“The government has failed to tackle rape prosecutions or make
this a priority for years, we need to see lessons learnt swiftly
To ensure victims have faith in the criminal justice system.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
- The full announcement from the CPS can be read here: https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/new-legal-guidance-prosecutors-helps-tackle-rape-myths-and-stereotypes-against-changing
- The material is part of a wide-ranging revision of legal
guidance for prosecutors on rape and serious sexual offences
(RASSO) which is being launched for public consultation. It is
the first full refresh since 2012 and includes updated guidance
on dealing with digital material, as well as reasonable lines of
enquiry.
Rape prosecution figures
- Figures announced in July 2020 by the CPS, showed that in
2019-20, the police referred 2,747 cases to the CPS, a reduction
of 40% in three years and the lowest number since the figures
were first published in 2014-15.
- 1,439 cases were convicted in 2019-20, which is half the figure
compared to three years ago.
- It is also taking longer for suspects to be charged, with the
average time from a case initially being referred to the CPS to a
decision to charge up from 53 days in 2015-16 to 145 days in
2019-20, which is almost five months.
- The HMICFRS ‘Evidence led domestic abuse prosecutions’ report
published in January 2020 stated “the domestic abuse caseload for
both the CPS and the police has increased by 88% against the
backdrop of a 25% reduction in police and CPS funding. This means
both investigators and prosecutors are stretched, which results
in difficult decisions about priorities.”
