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Rape and Sexual Violence
08 March 2022
Lead MP
Ellie Reeves
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementJustice & CourtsWomen & Equalities
Other Contributors: 20
At a Glance
Ellie Reeves raised concerns about rape and sexual violence in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Moves to commemorate International Women's Day, expresses regret over low conviction rates for rape, calls on the Government to introduce minimum sentences for stalking and rape, raise minimum sentencing for spiking, implement Labour’s survivors’ package, and assess the impact of specialist rape offence courts. The speech highlights the failure in the criminal justice system which results in record-low prosecutions and long delays for victims.
Ellie Reeves
Lab
Lewisham West and East Dulwich
The Labour MP outlines statistics showing a 2.9% charge rate for reported sexual offences and discusses the impact of inadequate support, delays and trauma on survivors. She calls for an immediate review into specialist rape offence courts to clear backlogs and emphasises the need for pre-recorded evidence under section 28, legal advocacy for victims from reporting through trial, tougher sentences for spiking, stalking, and rape.
Emma Hardy
Lab
Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
Raises concern about women not being entitled to criminal injuries compensation if they have had a prior conviction, highlighting the unfairness of such policies for victims of rape.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Pays tribute to a constituent who has written a play about her experience with sexual assault and going through the criminal justice system, emphasising the importance of hearing survivors' voices.
Tulip Siddiq
Lab
Hampstead and Highgate
Raises concern for women like Michelle who face stalking and lack legal aid to seek non-molestation orders, highlighting gaps in support for such victims.
Victoria Atkins
Con
Louth and Horncastle
The Minister emphasises the Government's commitment to addressing violence against women and girls through legislative changes, public awareness campaigns, and support services. She highlights actions such as funding local projects and initiatives worth over £27 million, introducing the 'Enough' campaign, expanding Operation Soteria, and implementing measures like pre-recorded evidence in rape cases. The Minister also discusses plans to include violence against women and girls in the strategic policing requirement.
Emma Hardy
Lab
Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
The hon. Member raises concerns about victims of sexual assault being unable to claim criminal injuries compensation due to unrelated prior convictions, urging for a review of eligibility criteria in the spirit of cooperation.
Jess Phillips
Lab
Birmingham Yardley
The hon. Member asks whether there are plans to look at data around constant and repeat offenders, questioning the current lack of monitoring of repeat offenders within the system.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
The hon. Member inquires about the status of RASSO units in police forces across the country and whether they should be reinstated or established where absent.
The hon. Member supports section 28 procedures and urges for a national roll-out, stressing the importance of ensuring that police forces are aware of and applying these measures consistently across the country.
Jess Phillips
Lab
Birmingham Yardley
Ms Phillips argued for a statutory duty on public commissioning bodies to provide specialist support services, including EMDR therapy. She criticised the Government's decision to end telemedical abortions and questioned transparency around Operation Soteria.
Mr Johnston highlighted the increasing number of reported rapes over time, citing figures from 2003 to 2020. He shared stories from constituents about the obstacles faced by victims in seeking justice and criticised the current system for failing victims. Mr Johnston welcomed some government measures but emphasised the need for prevention through education on healthy relationships.
Ruth Jones
Lab
Newport West
The Government's response to sexual violence is inadequate. According to a report by Rape Crisis, more than one in five women and one in twenty men have experienced rape or sexual assault as adults, indicating an epidemic that requires urgent action. Labour will implement measures to improve the situation for victims.
Improving the experience of victims of rape and serious sexual offences in the criminal justice system is crucial. However, it must be done while safeguarding the rights of an accused person. Key challenges include improving evidence gathering to meet the threshold for prosecution, addressing delays between reporting a case and sending it to CPS, and ensuring better training and sensitivity from police forces.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Pays tribute to Labour for calling the debate on International Women’s Day. Addresses sexual violence in war, citing UN conventions. Mentions statistics: 5 million victims of sexual assault in England and Wales, a third of girls aged 16-18 experiencing unwanted touching at school, an estimated 139,000 rapes with only 2.4% resulting in convictions. Criticises lack of action on misogyny not being a hate crime and security measures for MPs but not victims of violence. Supports work by Compassion UK to prevent forced child marriage and improve child survival rates.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Calls for action on rape and sexual violence, citing public feedback that the Conservative Government is failing women. Mentions survey results indicating safety measures taken by respondents due to rising VAWG. Criticises cuts to police RASSO units and CPS staff. Points out low conviction rates for rape in Warwickshire (only 7 convictions from 15 cases). Proposes extending use of Nightingale courts, appointing a Minister for rape survivors, introducing a victims Bill with specific legal reforms, making legal aid available to victims, fast-tracking rape cases through the court system.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Ms. Hayes highlights the government's failure to protect women and girls, pointing out that less than 2% of rape cases result in prosecution. She cites incidents of street harassment, sexual abuse in schools, and recent murders as examples of systemic failures. The speaker criticises the lack of action on promised legislation for curbing curb crawling and addressing the Everyone’s Invited campaign's revelations. She also addresses the misconduct within the police force and courts, calling for a statutory inquiry into the culture of misogyny. Ms. Hayes emphasises the need for change in policing and judicial practices, increased prevention efforts through education, and international solidarity with victims of sexual violence.
Anna McMorrin
Lab
Cardiff North
Anna McMorrin paid tribute to women in Ukraine during the debate. She discussed cases like Sophie's, where the criminal justice system failed a victim of sexual assault due to procedural delays and mishandling at court. She also highlighted Helen’s case, who was unfairly portrayed as a fraudster when her husband committed financial crimes under her name. McMorrin shared her own experience with an emotionally abusive relationship to break down stigmas around domestic abuse. She called for the government to take action on these issues, including setting up specialist rape courts and implementing Labour's survivors’ package.
Rachel Maclean
Lab
Wythenshawe and Sale East
Closing the debate on International Women's Day, Rachel Maclean praised the speech by Anna McMorrin for addressing stigma and changing attitudes. She thanked those who brought forth stories of their constituents and victims' experiences to drive change in the justice system. She highlighted issues like stalking, spiking, sentencing, and cross-Government responses to these matters. She mentioned £11.3 million awarded to police and crime commissioners for programmes against domestic abuse perpetrators and stalkers, and noted the Home Secretary's work with police on needle spiking incidents. Maclean also referenced her ongoing collaboration with various departments to address women’s health and mental health support for victims of trauma and sexual offences.
David Johnston
Con
Dartford
Johnston intervened to share a constituent's campaign on spiking, involving over 1,000 testimonies ranging from ages 14 to 65, which highlighted that spiking incidents are not always sexual offences and sometimes occur among friends.
Bob Neill
Con
Hornchurch and Upminster
Neill intervened to emphasise the importance of addressing data issues as referenced in a joint thematic report from two inspectorates, urging Maclean to include this in the Government's response.
Government Response
The Minister outlines the Government's actions to combat violence against women and girls, including funding initiatives, public awareness campaigns, legislative changes, and support services for victims. She commits to meeting with the hon. Member to discuss specific issues. Maclean responded positively to the interventions and affirmed her commitment to reviewing reports for better data understanding and implementing necessary responses. She highlighted ongoing work through Operation Soteria and other initiatives, aiming to restore trust in the criminal justice system.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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