Violence against Women and Girls 2023-05-25
2023-05-25
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about the number of cases related to violence against women and girls that are not being prosecuted.
What steps she is taking to increase the proportion of cases relating to violence against women and girls that are prosecuted.
Tackling violence against women and girls remains one of the Government's top priorities. We are doing everything possible to make our streets and homes safer for women and girls. Since the launch of the joint action plan, we have seen a significant increase in charge volumes for adult rape since January 2021.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps to increase prosecution rates were not detailed
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question stems from the issue that more than one in nine rape prosecutions were dropped last year due to victims withdrawing their support.
Will the Attorney General fix those problems and accept the joint inspectorate's conclusions that the system is failing rape victims when many of them find the legal process overlong and harrowing?
I thank the hon. Lady for her interest in this matter; it is something she and I discussed for many years as colleagues on the Justice Committee. We know it is important that justice is given as speedily as possible. Digging into the attrition of victims, particularly in rape cases, is very salutary. It is one reason why the Government have increased the money available to support victims fourfold in recent times.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions to fix problems were not detailed
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from reports that many women in the constituency have been victims of domestic violence but are not getting support or justice.
Why has the number of charges for domestic abuse and violence failed to keep pace with reported offences?
I thank the hon. Lady for her interest in this matter as well. Far more than warm words are being provided by the Government. We have been working very closely on real joint work between the CPS and the police. She will be pleased to know that, in her CPS area, the volume of adult rape suspects charged has gone up 41% in the last year.
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Assessment & feedback
Explanation for discrepancy was not provided
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the issue of ensuring that evidence presented by police to CPS is sufficient for prosecution.
Does the Attorney General agree that it is important to remember that, where there is sufficient evidence to put a case before a jury, the conviction rate for rape and serious sexual offences is entirely consistent with other violent offences?
Well, this is a Justice Committee alumni session and it is always good to hear from our Chair. He makes an important point. It is true that the CPS can prosecute only the cases that are referred to it. If we strip out the guilty pleas, the CPS is running at a conviction rate of between 50% and 60%. It always prosecutes where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific focus on ensuring adequate evidence was not addressed
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The question stems from a National World report suggesting that some cases are being charged with lesser offences, affecting the charge rate.
Can the Attorney General tell us whether it is true that 1,600 cases accused of and investigated for rape ended up being charged with a lesser offence?
I have been told that, for a force to have charged an alternative offence, the facts and the evidence must be extremely similar. Some of the reporting may relate to historic sexual abuse which may explain some of the figures.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific truth or impact on charge rate was not confirmed
Response accuracy