Eighth Report - Investigation and prosecution of rape

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.