Shadow Solicitor General, , said: “This is a disappointing result which
endorses what is effectively decriminalisation of rape.
“Survivors of sexual assault are being failed by the Government.
Rape prosecution rates are at their lowest level on record in
England and Wales, victims of rape are waiting years for their
court date, and only 1 in 7 victims have faith in the criminal
justice system.
“We need to see urgent action from the Government to address
these failures, but the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
doesn’t even mention women, let alone act to improve rape
conviction rates.
“Labour has set out a Survivors’ Support Plan and recommendations
that the Government should implement in its long overdue end to
end rape review.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Court case
- The End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) were seeking
judicial review of an alleged change of approach, from a
merits-based approach to a bookmaker’s approach, by the CPS
regarding the way they decide to prosecute sexual offences.
- EVAW, represented by the Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ),
began legal action against the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS),
claiming that the CPS has covertly changed its policy and
practice in relation to decision-making on rape cases, leading to
a dramatic fall in the number of rape cases being charged.
- Today, the high court has ruled in favour of the CPS – that
there has been no change in approach to the way it decides to
prosecute sexual offences.
Rape prosecution statistics
- 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.”
Rape victim’s faith in the criminal justice system
- A survey of nearly 500 survivors of rape, undertaken by the
Victims’ Commissioner, Dame , has
highlighted just 14% believed they would receive justice by
reporting the crime to the police.
- This comes at a time when reports to police about rape have
increased hugely but cases charged by CPS have dropped markedly.
In 2019/20 there were 55,000 reports of rape to the police, but
only 1,867 cases charged.
- In addition, the proportion of victims who chose to withdraw
their support for their case has steadily increased (from 25% in
2015/16 to 41% in 2019/20)
- In response to the fall in rape prosecutions, in 2019, the
government launched an End to End Review of how rape is dealt
with in the criminal justice system.
Labour’s Survivors’ Support Plan
- Rape and serious sexual assault cases should be fast-tracked
through the criminal justice system, Labour says today as it
unveils a package of reforms to end a decade of Conservative
failure for victims.
- Labour’s recommendations for Survivors' Support Plan for
victims include:
1. Fast-tracking rape and serious sexual assault cases through
the police, Crown Prosecution Service and the courts.
2. Establishing a pre and post-trial survivor’s support package,
including offering free and independent legal advice and
representation for victims and better training for professionals
around myths and stereotypes.
3. Appointing a Minister for Survivors of Rape and Sexual
Violence to investigate and tackle the root causes of delays in
the system, and act as a champion for victims.
