Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rape Conviction Rates

Thursday 18 November 2021 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial colleagues meet regularly with the Crown Prosecution Service and Director of Public Prosecutions to enhance justice for victims.
  • The Government has launched RASSO 2025, an end-to-end rape review, and invested 80 million in the CPS to improve the system.
  • 27 million is allocated to recruit 700 ISVAs and IDVAs to support complainants through the court process.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Selaine Saxby
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The CPS has been under pressure to increase the number of successful prosecutions for rape and serious sexual assaults.

Question

What recent discussions have there been with the Crown Prosecution Service on increasing the number of successful prosecutions for (a) rape and (b) serious sexual assault?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The Law Officers regularly meet ministerial colleagues, as well as the Director of Public Prosecutions and others, to drive forward progress on justice for victims. Last week, I met RASSO prosecutors at the CPS west midlands who have secured several recent convictions, including that of Daniel Jones.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide full details about specific discussions or initiatives beyond mentioning meetings and recent convictions.

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Q2 Alex Cunningham Lab
Justice & Courts
Context

A National Audit Office report highlights that rape cases face high risks of collapse due to victims withdrawing, suggesting the government's opposition to Labour's proposals for fast-tracking these cases is detrimental.

Question

Does the Minister agree with the National Audit Office report stating that the Government are failing rape victims who wait years for their cases to be heard and withdraw from the process? Can he explain why the Government opposed Labour's proposals?

Answer from Alex Chalk

There are active measures to pre-record evidence, including 'RASSO 2025', a joint national action plan between police and CPS, an end-to-end rape review, and £80 million investment in the CPS. We aim to speed up the system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not fully address if the government agrees with NAO report or why they opposed Labour's proposals specifically.

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Q3 Selaine Saxby
Justice & Courts Parliamentary Procedure Local Government
Context

Community safety partnerships in Devon and Cornwall estimate that there were 23,000 victims of sexual assault across the two counties in 2019-20. Local leaders need support to hold criminal justice agencies accountable.

Question

How will the Minister ensure local leaders have powers and tools to hold all criminal justice agencies accountable locally for delivering progress on prosecutions?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Every agency is mobilised to drive improvements. RASSO 2025, joint national action plan, end-to-end review are launched. £80 million investment for recruiting ISVAs and support through the court process is announced.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specifics on powers given to local leaders to hold agencies accountable.

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Q4 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Justice & Courts NHS
Context

The rape review includes spending on refuge accommodation, but the questioner seeks to know how much new funding is specifically allocated to support rape victims in getting justice.

Question

How much new funding has been secured from the Treasury to support rape victims to get justice?

Answer from Alex Chalk

£27 million is allocated for recruiting 700 ISVAs and IDVAs to support complainants through the court process. An additional £51 million for refuge accommodation, but it's not directly related to improving victims' experience in criminal justice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not fully address how much funding is allocated specifically for supporting rape victims' access to justice beyond ISVAs and IDVAs.

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Q5 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Crime & Law Enforcement NHS Mental Health
Context

Questioner understands that improvements are needed not only in court processing but also in providing support to rape victims before their cases are heard.

Question

What will happen to ensure rape victims have assistance and help from every point of view until their case is heard?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Funding for rape support centres has increased by two thirds. Individuals have access to critical support from ISVAs and IDVAs, and GRASAC provides amazing support in Gloucestershire as evidenced by positive feedback.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not fully address the specific measures for support until cases are heard beyond general statements on availability of support.

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Q6 Bob Neill Con
Justice & Courts
Context

Questioner welcomes the Solicitor General to his place and highlights improvements in treatment of victims, awareness of trauma impact, digital evidence handling, and need for maintaining judicial capacity.

Question

Does he agree with significant improvement in victim treatment after Crown Prosecution Service legal guidance revision? Is it important now to maintain courts system capacity?

Answer from Alex Chalk

Correct balance in digital evidence handling without compromising fair trial rights. Maintaining judicial capacity important, as Lord Chief Justice has pointed out.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q7 Ellie Reeves Lab Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The Prime Minister refused to commit to restoring rape prosecution rates to 2016 levels by the end of this Parliament.

Question

I welcome the Solicitor General to his place. The Prime Minister said that the CPS is not taking rape prosecutions seriously enough and refused to commit to restoring rape prosecution rates to 2016 levels. Does the Solicitor General agree with these comments? Is this another example of victims being abandoned by the Government?

Answer from Alex Chalk

No, that is not the case at all. The additional funding going into the CPS is £80 million, which means there will be an additional 100 RASSO prosecutors. These individuals are motivated and determined.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Solicitor General did not directly address whether he agrees with the Prime Minister's comments on CPS handling of rape cases or commitment to restore prosecution rates to 2016 levels.

How: No, That Is Not The Case At All.

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