Attorney General MP speaks about improved
service for victims of rape and serious sexual offences.
In the criminal justice system, increasing rape prosecutions and
convictions is our job. Increasing victims’ confidence in the
system and achieving justice; that’s also our duty.
Any crime can have a long-lasting impact on its victims, but for
those affected by rape and serious sexual offences, the damage
can run particularly deep and stay with survivors for the rest of
their lives. They deserve justice.
But I hear the same disheartening message from the survivors I
speak to around the country—that the road to justice can be is so
long and so difficult that they feel there is no point in
reporting these offences.
That is why this government has committed to making the system
work better for people - and two years on from the Government’s
End to End Rape Review, strong progress has been made to
transform the response to rape. But we want to go further – and
today we are announcing further measures to make that possible.
We know better joint-working between the Police and CPS leads to
more perpetrators facing justice. So a new National Operating
Model produced through Operation Soteria, a project to transform
the way these complex cases are handled, is being rolled out to
every police force and every rape prosecutor across England and
Wales.
The support starts when these crimes are reported. Frontline
investigators will now have step-by-step guidance on conducting
these sensitive investigations, and 2,000 officers will undergo
specialist training in rape and sexual offences. A step-by-step
toolkit will ensure that investigations are focused on the
conduct of the suspect and mindful of the rights and privacy of
the victims.
Before cases go to trial, victims now have the right to meetings
with prosecution teams to ask questions and raise concerns.
Victims can also seek support from trained professionals on a
24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line. And we are again
increasing access to Independent Sexual Violence Advisers who can
offer tailored, practical support.
When it is time for the trial, specialist rape prosecutors can
put their expertise to work. And victims can claim expenses,
including childcare costs, incurred by appearing in court.
At the conclusion of the trial, even more victims in Specialist
Sexual Violence Courts will have the option to attend sentencing
hearings remotely. No one should have to feel unsafe to access
justice.
I feel deeply the concerns and anxieties of survivors when it
comes to engaging with the criminal justice system. It is to them
that I say– I cannot promise you that it will be easy, but
support is available. Justice is available.
