Rape and Violence against Women and Girls Prosecutions and Convictions
2021-11-09
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Recorded rape offences have hit a record high of 61,000 cases, with only 1.4% resulting in charges and just 1,333 convictions. The government's own review failed to agree on targets.
What steps are being taken with Cabinet colleagues to improve prosecution and conviction rates for those charged with rape? Recorded offences at a record high of 61,000 cases, only 1.4% resulting in charges, and just 1,333 convictions. The Government's own review failed to agree on targets.
The Government are providing £150 million for victims and witnesses, with over £50 million ringfenced for rape and domestic abuse victims. Funding includes support services like independent sexual violence advisers to give victims confidence. The government will publish criminal justice scorecards for general crime and specifically for rape before Christmas.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Commitment to get conviction and prosecution levels back to those seen in 2016 by the end of this Parliament was not directly addressed
Looking At Every Stage Of The System
Improving Phone Technology
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Only 2.4% of reported rape cases end in a conviction, leading to fear among victims about reliving trauma and getting justice.
Will the Secretary of State commit to mandatory training in the Crown Prosecution Service on understanding the impact of trauma and supporting victims so that all victims come forward with confidence?
The funding includes support services like independent sexual violence advisers. We will publish criminal justice scorecards, improving phone technology, digital disclosure, suspect-centric investigations, and pre-recorded cross-examinations to prevent trauma for victims.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Commitment to mandatory training specifically for understanding trauma was not provided
Funding Independent Sexual Violence Advisers
Publishing Criminal Justice Scorecards
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Recorded offences are at a record high of 61,000 cases with only 1.4% resulting in charges and just 1,333 convictions. The government's own review failed to agree on targets.
Will the Secretary of State commit to getting conviction and prosecution levels back to those seen in 2016 by the end of this Parliament?
Improving phone technology, digital disclosure, suspect-centric investigations, and pre-recorded cross-examinations for vulnerable victims. We are publishing criminal justice scorecards for rape cases before Christmas.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Commitment to improve conviction and prosecution levels was not directly addressed
Improving Phone Technology
Publishing Criminal Justice Scorecards
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
David Fuller violated 100 bodies at a Kent hospital, and the current maximum sentence for necrophilia is two years.
Can my right hon. Friend consider reviewing the maximum sentence for necrophilia to ensure it reflects the gravity of the crime?
Total disgust at David Fuller's case; willing to look again at sentences. Incidents are rare but abhorrent, and the sentence must match the level of outrage and trauma experienced by victims' families.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to review sentencing was not made
Willing To Look Again At Sentences
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Only 91 prosecutions and 13 convictions for specific modern slavery offences last year. Charity Justice and Care provides victim navigators to help prosecute evil gangs.
Will the Government look at extending support for Justice and Care, which helps provide evidence to secure more prosecutions?
Happy to look carefully at providing more support for victims. Victim navigators from the charity help in prosecuting cases, dovetailing with independent sexual violence advisers supporting victims.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to extend support was not made
Looking Carefully At Victim Support
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Independent reviews by Sir John Gillen, Baroness Stern and Lady Dorrian unanimously stated that early evidence-giving under section 28 is crucial in preventing withdrawal from the criminal process.
When can we expect this procedure to be rolled out across the nation?
Careful evaluation of evidence from pilots and trials. Section 28 is important for victims of rape, other vulnerable victims, more effective prosecutions, and deterring defence lawyers from waiting until court to plead guilty.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline or commitment was not provided
Careful Evaluation Of Evidence
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Channel 4's “Dispatches” programme exposed systemic issues leading to 80% of rape victims not reporting crimes due to disbelief and retraumatisation by the justice system.
Victims of spiking, rape or sexual assault are often retraumatised by a cross-examination system that discredits them despite their experiences. The programme exposed how women feel soul-destroyed when not believed. Will the Secretary of State explain who is on trial here and what will be done to restore faith in the justice system?
The hon. Lady's sense of frustration is shared on behalf of victims across the country. There is no single solution due to system-wide failures. More victims are now reporting crimes compared to before. Operation Soteria aims to shift investigations from victim-centric to suspect-centric. Technical improvements include section 28 and better phone technology for digital disclosure. Publishing criminal justice scorecards will identify best practices at both national and local levels.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Concrete steps and specific commitments addressing systemic failures in cross-examination were not provided.
Technical Improvements
No Single Silver Bullet
Response accuracy