Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
3
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 even in 2016, criminal justice outcomes for rape were viewed …
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 …
Home Office
4
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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, even though the Government has said that, if outcomes don’t …
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
5
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 operational partners will be held to account if there continues …
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 …
Home Office
6
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 link this data better is ongoing and a ‘high priority’. …
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
7
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 police and the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure as an …
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 …
Home Office
8
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 support services is to be welcomed. This should take into …
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 …
Home Office
10
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 could then oversee the provision of specialist support services for …
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 …
Home Office
14
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 …
Home Office
15
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 teams in place would be a powerful way to demonstrate …
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 …
Home Office
16
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 misleading, when the Government does not know how many of …
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 …
Home Office
17
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 example, the number trained on the Rape and Specialist Sexual …
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 …
Home Office
18
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 commitment should be comprehensively backed by a costed plan to …
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 …
Home Office
21
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 …
Home Office
22
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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 the pilot. (Paragraph 127) The CPS response to rape
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 …
Home Office
24
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Investigation and prose…
Deferred
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. However, as part of the CPS’s work designing a new …
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 …
Home Office