Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence against Women and Girls: Prosecution Rates

Wednesday 7 December 2022 · 9 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 9 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government have enacted new offences targeting predatory behaviour, including stalking, coercive and controlling behaviour, and upskirting.
  • Prosecutions for rape offences in the year ending June 2022 were 49% higher compared to pre-COVID levels.
  • The number of days between police referral and CPS charge has been moving in the right direction, but evidence gathering can take time to ensure correctness.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Geraint Davies Lab
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

The MP is concerned about the prosecution rates of cases related to violence against women and girls.

Question

What steps she is taking to increase the proportion of cases relating to violence against women and girls that are prosecuted.

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

The Government have enacted new offences targeting predatory behaviour, including stalking, coercive and controlling behaviour, and upskirting. In the year ending June 2022, prosecutions for rape offences were 49% higher compared with pre-covid levels.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to increase prosecution rates not detailed

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Q2 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP notes that domestic abuse-related crime levels are among the highest in London and concerns about under-reporting by victims due to lack of trust in the system.

Question

Lewisham has some of the highest domestic abuse-related crime levels in London and that appears to be increasing. What are Ministers doing to restore public trust and increase prosecution rates?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

The rape review action plan is looking at referrals, charge volumes and Crown court receipts. The figures are moving in a positive direction. Independent sexual violence advisers will help with issues related to victims.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to address under-reporting not detailed

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Q3 Kate Osborne Lab Jarrow and Gateshead East
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP notes that the commitment to introduce specialist rape courts has not been met with only a pilot scheme in four locations. Concerns about under-reporting of rapes, prosecution rates and the need for resources during Christmas period.

Question

What is my hon. Friend doing to ensure that cases reported to the Government's new 24-hour hotline are actually prosecuted?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

Prosecutions and convictions for rape have increased. There are three pilot areas for rape courts, but each Crown court can take on rape cases. Determined to see prosecutions and convictions rise.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific resource allocation not detailed

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Q4 Caroline Johnson Con Sleaford and North Hykeham
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP is concerned about the long time it takes for raped women to come to court.

Question

What is my hon. Friend doing to ensure that the time is shorter for all concerned?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

The number of days between police referral and CPS charge has been moving in the right direction, but evidence gathering can take time to ensure correctness.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to shorten time not detailed

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Q5 James Daly
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP acknowledges progress but highlights low referrals and charge rates in rape cases.

Question

I acknowledge the progress that the Government are making on this issue, but at the heart of the matter is the lack of referrals from the police to the CPS, especially in rape cases. What more can be done?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

Charge rates are 72.8%, compared with 78.8% for all crime, but the local area's charge rate is increasing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to increase referrals not detailed

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Q6 James Duddridge Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP welcomes the absolute increase in rape prosecutions but notes low percentages.

Question

What more can the Attorney General do to help excellent police and crime commissioners such as Roger Hirst and Members of Parliament across Essex to improve the situation?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

Supporting victims through ISVAs, which increases their likelihood to stay with and progress through the criminal justice system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions by Attorney General not detailed

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Q7 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The MP welcomes the Attorney General to her place and raises concerns about low prosecution rates for stalking offences.

Question

Does the Solicitor General think that a charge rate of just 5% is good enough?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

Stalking was created an offence under this Government. Prosecution and charge rates are not high enough, but we are determined to see them increase.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to address low prosecution rates not detailed

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Q8 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Justice & Courts
Context

A formal complaint has been submitted by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and other members of the National Stalking Consortium asking for an investigation into stalking case handling. The consortium also submitted recommendations alongside its complaint.

Question

I appreciate the seriousness with which the Solicitor General approaches these issues but, as he will know, a formal complaint has been submitted by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and 20 other members of the National Stalking Consortium, asking for an investigation into the overall handling of stalking cases. Whatever the outcome of that process, may I ask him to take on board the recommendations that the consortium has submitted alongside its complaint and to ensure that, at every level of the criminal justice system, stalking is treated with the seriousness it deserves?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

I pay tribute to the right hon. Lady for the tone that she is striking. She is absolutely right to highlight this issue. The Attorney General and I will look at it incredibly closely, of course, and we will do exactly as the right hon. Lady says.

Partly answered

How: Will Look At It Incredibly Closely

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Q9 Angela Crawley SNP
Women & Equalities
Context

A commitment to protecting women and girls includes the need to extend safeguards against gender-based violence to migrant women, ensuring they are offered similar protections as other women in the UK.

Question

May I also take the opportunity to welcome the Attorney General to her place? A commitment to protecting women and girls should mean protecting all women and girls. Safeguards protecting against gender-based violence must be extended to migrant women. What representations has the Attorney General made to the Home Office to ensure that migrant women are offered the same protections as other women in the UK, and to ratify the Istanbul convention fully and without reservation?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

I know that my right hon. Friend the Attorney General will be very grateful for the hon. Lady's welcome. The Attorney General works incredibly closely with the Home Office on the issue; more broadly, in relation to victims, she works incredibly closely with the Home Office and with the Ministry of Justice. It is not in isolation, but with our three Departments, that we can make progress.

Partly answered

How: Works Incredibly Closely

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