Investigation and prosecution of rape
Home Affairs Committee
Closed
Inquiry
As part of the Committee’s overarching work into violence against women and girls, the Committee wishes to explore the key question of why rape prosecutions are falling. Read the terms of reference for more detail about this work. The Committee is keen to understand from victims and survivors of rape …
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24
Recommendations
12
Conclusions
1
Report
6
Oral sessions
10
Letters
6
Events
Activity timeline 24 events
7 Sep
2022
2022
7 Sep
2022
2022
7 Sep
2022
2022
7 Sep
2022
2022
7 Sep
2022
2022
7 Sep
2022
2022
25 Jul
2022
2022
22 Jun
2022
2022
18 May
2022
2022
18 May
2022
2022
12 Apr
2022
2022
Report published
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
15 Dec 2021
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Jaee Samant · Home Office
Jerome Glass · Ministry of Justice
Rachel Maclean · Home Office
13 Dec 2021
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Max Hill QC · Crown Prosecution Service
1 Dec 2021
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Derek Sweeting QC · The Bar Council
Ellie Cumbo · The Law Society
Kirsty Brimelow QC · The Criminal Bar Association
Professor Penney Lewis · The Law Commission
20 Oct 2021
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Baroness Stern CBE
David Tucker · College of Policing
Donna Jones
Rt Hon Lady Dorrian
Rt Hon Sir John Gillen
Sarah Crew
7 Jul 2021
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Dr Olivia Smith · Loughborough University
Professor Betsy Stanko OBE · Project Bluestone
Professor Cheryl Thomas · UCL
23 Jun 2021
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Amelia Handy · Rape Crisis England and Wales
Dame Vera Baird QC
Duncan Craig OBE · Survivors Manchester
Ellie Ball · Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre
Emily Hunt
Rosie Lewis · Imkaan
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eighth Report - Investigation and prosecution of rape | HC 193 | 12 Apr 2022 | 36 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Government rightly prioritising reversing falling rape prosecutions and restoring public confidence
It is right that the Government is focusing on reversing the falling volumes of prosecutions and restoring people’s confidence in reporting, and we welcome the priority that has been placed on this pressing undertaking through the End-to-End Rape Review.
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Government Response
The government is exploring ways to link data across criminal justice agencies, building on a proof-of-concept tool from Avon and Somerset Police and CPS South West. Ministers commit to writing with further detail on these efforts.
Home Office
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9
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Undertake comprehensive mapping and monitoring of specialist sexual violence and abuse support services
It is essential that the Government and other commissioning bodies have an understanding of the level of need and the current availability of specialist sexual violence and abuse services, including counselling and therapy and the support offered by Independent Sexual …
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Government Response
The government stated that data on specialist services is not centrally collated and committed to working to better understand data in this area, providing an update in due course, and also mentioned a new blended learning program for police officers.
Home Office
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20
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Extend Sexual Violence Complainants’ Advocate Scheme pilot to diverse demographic and geographic areas.
The Government should further pilot the Sexual Violence Complainants’ Advocate Scheme, first offered in Northumbria. This pilot should be extended to areas with differing demographic and geographic profiles. This would empower and support complainants to understand better and deal with …
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Government Response
The government stated it will continue working with partners to understand and identify improvements in sexual violence and abuse services, including considering strengthening counselling and therapy provision, but did not commit to further piloting the Sexual Violence Complainants’ Advocate Scheme.
Home Office
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36
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Work with judiciary to guarantee fixtures for all rape and serious sexual offence trials.
We urge the Government to work with the judiciary to explore what more could be done to ensure fixtures for all rape and serious sexual offence trials are guaranteed. This would help address the severe delays many complainants and defendants …
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Government Response
The government is committed to working with the judiciary to reduce delays, noting that judges prioritize vulnerable cases and aim to provide fixed trial dates for serious sex cases wherever possible, while highlighting that case allocation remains a judicial responsibility.
Home Office
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Correspondence 10 letters
7 Sep 2022
From committee
Letter to the Home Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister on the government response to the report on Investigation and Prosecution of Rape, dated 27 July 2022
Parliament page
7 Sep 2022
From committee
Letter to Minister for Safeguarding on Government consultation on police requests for Third Party Material, dated 27 July 2022
Parliament page
7 Sep 2022
To committee
Letter from Minister for Safeguarding on Government consultation on police requests for Third Party Material consultation, dated 9 August 2022
Parliament page
7 Sep 2022
To committee
Letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions on the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme, dated 30 August 2022
Parliament page
7 Sep 2022
From committee
Letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme, dated 27 July 2022
Parliament page
7 Sep 2022
To committee
Letter from the Home Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister on the government response to the report on Investigation and Prosecution of Rape, dated 30 August 2022
Parliament page
22 Jun 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister of State for Justice on improving the criminal justice system response to rape, dated 15 June 2022
Parliament page
18 May 2022
From committee
Letter to the Home Secretary on the investigation and prosecution of rape, dated 11 April 2022
Parliament page
18 May 2022
To committee
Letter from the Home Secretary on the investigation and prosecution of rape, dated 10 May 2022
Parliament page
9 Feb 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Safeguarding following her appearance before the Committee on 15 December 2021, dated 1 February 2022
Parliament page