Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 18
18
The Department explained that victims of rape and serious sexual offences had been particularly affected...
Conclusion
The Department explained that victims of rape and serious sexual offences had been particularly affected by the pandemic. These difficult and complex cases are more likely to need a jury trial, which need space to accommodate the jury. It was more challenging to hear jury trials during the period when social distancing was in place given the additional space needed to hear trials safely.29 As a result the number of such cases waiting longer than a year increased by 435% between March 2020 and June 2021.30 Since March 2021, the number of rape and serious sexual offence cases in the backlog actually fell, though the 25 Qq59–61; C&AG’s Report, para 2.12 26 Qq59–60 27 Qq59–61 28 Qq62–68 29 Q38 30 C&AG’s Report, para 9 12 Reducing the backlog in criminal courts Department accepted the number needs to come down much further.31 The Department published its end-to-end rape review in June 2021 which set out actions to increase the number of rape and serious sexual offence cases being prosecuted and convicted, which could add further pressure on the courts.32 The Department said that it was too early to assess the impact of its rape review on cases in the backlog.33
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2024 2.2 Since publishing the End-to-End Rape Review Report on Findings and Actions in June 2021, the government has made significant progress in delivering actions to support victims of rape and serious sexual offences. In December 2021, the government published the first progress report and ‘scorecard’ on adult rape cases. The progress report sets out the progress made since publication and includes key actions for the next six months. 2.3 On 25 March 2022, the government published the first local scorecards which will allow monitoring of both local and regional progress, generate insights into local disparities, and enable the sharing of best practice to help local criminal justice agencies drive improvement. The government will continue to use the scorecard and progress report to increase public transparency, support local collaboration and monitor progress on the ambition to more than double the number of adult rape cases reaching court by the end of this parliament. 2.4 In addition, following the commitment to increase the number of Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence Advisers funded by the Ministry of Justice from 700 to 1,000 by 2024- 25, the department has started the recruitment process for these additional posts. To date, this includes working with Police and Crime Commissioners to establish an up-to-date picture of local need. The department will continue to report its progress on recruiting Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence Advisers through the Rape Review Progress Updates. The department has also recently consulted on the Victim’s Bill, including reviewing what more can be done to strengthen victim advocate roles such as Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence Advisers, reviewing join-up across agencies, standards, guidance and frameworks.