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
15 results
3
Conclusion
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Achieving 2016 rape prosecution levels insufficient, confidence in reaching target low
Whilst returning the volume of rape cases being dealt with to 2016 levels, as the Rape Review aims for, would be a step in the right direction, it should not be considered a success in and of itself, given that …
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Government Response
The government did not directly address the need for greater and faster progress in rape prosecutions, instead committing to improve the collection and publication of data on victims' protected characteristics and compliance with the Victims' Code through a new Victims Bill.
Home Office
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4
Conclusion
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Unclear how Government will hold partners accountable for increasing rape prosecution volumes
We are encouraged by the commitment to measuring progress through the performance scorecards and progress updates. However, it is unclear how the Government will hold operationally independent partners to account for their role in increasing the volume of rape prosecutions, …
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Government Response
The government did not address how it will hold operationally independent partners accountable for increasing rape prosecutions, instead detailing its work on strengthening victim support services, including publishing a refreshed National Statement of Expectations and VAWG Commissioning Toolkit.
Home Office
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5
Recommendation
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Mandate Government to specify operational partner accountability for increasing rape prosecution volumes
We recommend that if the progress updates demonstrate that the review is not having its intended impact, the Government react quickly and effectively, putting in place alternative actions. In its next progress update, the Government must set out exactly how …
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Government Response
The government recognised potential benefits of a dedicated commissioner for victims of sexual violence and abuse and is considering this, with an update promised in due course, but did not address the committee's specific recommendations on reacting to lack of progress, holding operational partners accountable, NCJB reform, or ministerial updates.
Home Office
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6
Recommendation
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Mandate Home and Justice Secretaries to detail criminal justice data linking aims and methodology
As the Government’s data note on the performance scorecards makes clear, it is not possible to accurately track individual offences or defendants across the criminal justice system for the purposes of statistical reporting. We welcome the fact that work to …
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Government Response
The government outlined funding and progress for Operation Soteria, aiming for a national operating model by June 2023, but did not address the committee's specific request for further details on data linking work, its aims, methodology, and timescales.
Home Office
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7
Recommendation
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Mandate Home Office and MoJ to collect and publish ethnicity data for rape victims
It is important that the justice system captures data about victims that can give insight into whether their protected characteristics might affect their criminal justice journeys. We recommend that the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice work with the …
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Government Response
The government discussed existing work and funding for initiatives addressing vulnerability, such as the d/Deaf Access to Policing Strategy and the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme, and committed to updating the Committee on this within 12 months, but did not specifically commit to collecting and publishing ethnicity data for rape victims.
Home Office
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8
Recommendation
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Ensure long-term, sustainable commissioning and funding models for specialist rape victim support services
The provision of specialist support to victims and survivors of rape is vital, given the devastating impact of sexual violence and the difficulties complainants face during the investigation and prosecution process. The Government’s research into what rape victims need from …
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Government Response
The government agreed on the importance of specialism in policing rape and sexual offences, highlighting police recruitment, training initiatives, and Operation Soteria to develop a national operating model, but did not address the recommendation on long-term funding and commissioning models for specialist victim support services.
Home Office
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10
Recommendation
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Consider establishing or expanding a dedicated commissioner for sexual violence and abuse with adequate powers
We agree with HMICFRS and HMCPSI that the Government should consider the merits of either establishing a dedicated commissioner for sexual violence and abuse or expanding the existing responsibilities and powers of one of our existing commissioners. The relevant commissioner …
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Government Response
The government outlined its commitment to improving mobile phone data analysis for rape investigations, including a £5 million rollout of technology and work on selective extraction, and completed a consultation on legal support for victims regarding personal information requests. It did not address the recommendation about establishing a dedicated commissioner.
Home Office
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14
Conclusion
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Government inaction on establishing effective specialist police rape teams is disappointing.
We are disappointed that, despite the difference that specialist police rape teams make, the Government has not done more to ensure such teams are in place.
Government Response
The government detailed efforts to improve communication with victims, referencing the CPS and police's Joint National Action Plan, refreshed victim letters, and independent research on victim needs, but did not address the committee's disappointment regarding the lack of specialist police rape teams.
Home Office
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15
Recommendation
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Encourage police forces to establish specialist rape teams and provide necessary support.
The Government must strongly encourage police forces without specialist police rape teams to put such teams in place. Since the policing of violence against women and girls is to be added to the Strategic Policing Requirement, putting specialist police rape …
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Government Response
The government responded by detailing the Victims’ Right to Review scheme, explaining how it provides an opportunity for victims to have their cases reviewed, and outlined its commitment to publishing VRR data and using internal VRR analysis for learning and staff training, but did not address the recommendation for establishing specialist police rape teams.
Home Office
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16
Conclusion
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Home Office lacks data on RASSO-trained police officers, rendering uplift figures misleading.
It is very concerning that the Home Office does not have the numbers of police officers who are RASSO-trained. The emphasis on the uplift programme in the Rape Investigation and prosecution of rape 79 Review Progress Update is also potentially …
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Government Response
The government outlined the timeline and publication of the CPS' Pre-trial Therapy Fundamental Principles and updated pre-trial therapy guidance, following the Attorney General’s Office review of its Disclosure Guidelines, but did not address the committee's concerns about data on RASSO-trained police officers.
Home Office
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17
Recommendation
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Collect and publish data on specialist rape teams and RASSO-trained officers in all forces.
The Government must start collecting and publishing data on the number of police forces with specialist police rape teams in place, and the number of police officers with specialist rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) training in each force (for …
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Government Response
The government stated that the Ministry of Justice has asked the Law Commission to conduct a review of the use of evidence in sexual offence cases, and that it will work with the Law Commission as their findings emerge, but did not address the recommendation to collect and publish data on specialist police rape teams and RASSO-trained officers.
Home Office
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18
Conclusion
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Government ambition for rape victims' mobile phones lacks a comprehensive, costed implementation plan.
We welcome the Government’s ambition to ensure no victim of rape will be without a mobile phone for more than 24 hours by 2024, and the extra funding to support certain police forces to analyse digital evidence effectively. However, this …
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Government Response
The government mentioned ongoing consultations by the Ministry of Justice and Home Office regarding legal support for victims and police requests for third-party material, but did not commit to a costed plan for police forces to implement the 24-hour mobile phone return policy.
Home Office
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21
Recommendation
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Widen pilot to include legal advice for victims on sexual history applications.
The Government should also consider widening any such pilot so that people would also be able to benefit from legal advice on sexual history applications.
Government Response
The government referred to the CPS Rape Strategy Update and the refresh of the Joint National Action Plan (JNAP), focusing on broader CPS efforts and data, but did not address the recommendation to consider widening a pilot for legal advice on sexual history applications.
Home Office
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22
Recommendation
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
Commit to offering independent legal advice to all rape victims, subject to pilot success.
If engagement with victims’ groups as promised by the Rape Review Progress Update demonstrate support and the need for independent legal advice, the Government must commit to offering legal advice to all victims of rape, subject to the success of …
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Government Response
The government committed to the national rollout of section 28 (pre-recorded cross-examination) for sexual and modern slavery complainants, with implementation ongoing across Crown Courts, and is consulting on criminal legal aid fee scheme changes to reflect this work, but did not commit to offering legal advice to all victims.
Home Office
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24
Conclusion
Deferred
Eighth Report - Investigation and …
CPS victim communication needs improvement, suggesting video link as general practice.
We have heard from victims and survivors that the CPS’s level and quality of communication could be more effective and sensitive. We welcome the fact that the CPS has designed new letters to engage better with victims at key moments. …
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Government Response
The government committed to working with the judiciary to reduce waiting times and prioritize vulnerable cases, and is launching pilots of enhanced specialist sexual violence support in specific Crown Courts to improve in-court support and tackle backlogs, but did not commit to the CPS adopting video link communication with complainants.
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 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
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
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 the Director of Public Prosecutions on the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme, 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
To committee
Letter from the Home Secretary on the investigation and prosecution of rape, dated 10 May 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
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