Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Eighth Report - Investigation and prosecution of rape
Home Affairs Committee
HC 193
Published 12 April 2022
Recommendations
9
Acknowledged
Para 73
Undertake comprehensive mapping and monitoring of specialist sexual violence and abuse support services
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Acknowledged
Para 125
Extend Sexual Violence Complainants’ Advocate Scheme pilot to diverse demographic and geographic areas.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Acknowledged
Work with judiciary to guarantee fixtures for all rape and serious sexual offence trials.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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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Conclusions (2)
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 45
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.
Government Response Summary
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.
13
Conclusion
Para 94
In light of the challenges deaf survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence told us they had experienced when engaging with the police, we would also urge the Home Office to undertake work with police forces across England and Wales to understand what provisions are currently in place to enable …