Support for Victims of Crime 2025-09-04
2025-09-04
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Q1
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Alaba visited Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis centre, noting extended court delays impacting third sector organisations. Under the previous government, 73,000 cases faced backlogs.
Earlier this year, I visited Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis Centre where we discussed how extended court delays put pressure on the third sector organisations that provide vital support. Under the previous Government, the total backlog of all court cases soared, leaving 73,000 victims waiting years for their day in court. Now, we finally have a Government who are putting victims first. Our Labour Government have allocated the highest number of sitting days on record. How is the CPS playing its role in getting quicker justice for victims?
My hon. Friend rightly highlights the necessary and important action that this Government are taking to address the crisis in our courts. Alongside that, the CPS is using every tool at its disposal to reduce the backlog, including by trialling new initiatives to expedite domestic abuse trials and weekly listing meetings with partners in the criminal justice system.
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Q2
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Cox visited CARA, a Colchester organisation supporting rape and sexual abuse victims.
I recently visited the Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse in Colchester which offers vital support to victims of rape and serious sexual violence. Will the Solicitor General reaffirm the Government's commitment to such organisations carrying out frontline work? What is she doing to enhance the number of rape trials that actually proceed?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising the important role that organisations such as CARA play in supporting victims of rape and serious sexual violence. Supporting victims throughout the criminal justice process is a priority for this Government, and we are taking a range of measures to do just that, including implementing Raneem’s law to embed dedicated domestic abuse teams within 999 control rooms and introducing free independent legal advisers for victims of adult rape.
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Q3
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Robertson has been campaigning on spiking cases and had a meeting with the Solicitor General.
I have been campaigning to support victims of spiking. Following my meeting with the Solicitor General, her office's correspondence seems to miss the point and does not follow our conversation. The CPS is heavily quoted but fails to address the loophole in the law I've identified. Will she agree to meet again with me and representatives from the CPS to understand this issue?
The hon. Member has done important work in this area. We met previously to discuss the potential for reckless spiking, and I entirely understand why he is concerned about that. The correspondence that we sent reflected that we had discussions with the CPS who felt that the circumstances he was concerned about were very unlikely to arise. However, I am more than happy to meet him again if he believes there are issues that need further clarification.
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Q4
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Slade raised a stalking case in her constituency where the repeat offender keeps getting released on bail.
I have raised multiple occasions a case of stalking in my constituency. Despite being arrested and charged continually, he keeps getting released on bail. The police are frustrated, and the resident is let down. What assurance can I provide her that the CPS takes seriously repeat offenders and their repeat offending when they finally come to court?
The hon. Member raises a very important point, and I acknowledge how damaging stalking can be to people’s lives, particularly when it comes to repeat offenders. We have set out new measures to tackle stalking, including statutory guidance to empower the police to release the identities of online stalkers and a review of the stalking legislation to ensure that it is fit for purpose.
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