Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence against Women and Girls

Thursday 25 May 2023 · 5 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 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial questions focused on violence against women and girls, addressing prosecution rates and systemic issues.
  • The Attorney General discussed the importance of speeding up justice for victims of rape and acknowledged the challenges in the legal process.
  • The Government highlighted increased collaboration between the CPS and police to address reported offences not leading to charges.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from concerns about the number of cases related to violence against women and girls that are not being prosecuted.

Question

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

Answer from Victoria Prentis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to increase prosecution rates were not detailed

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Q2 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Justice & Courts
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to fix problems were not detailed

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Q3 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
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.

Question

Why has the number of charges for domestic abuse and violence failed to keep pace with reported offences?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Explanation for discrepancy was not provided

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Q4 Bob Neill Con
Justice & Courts
Context

The question arises from the issue of ensuring that evidence presented by police to CPS is sufficient for prosecution.

Question

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?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific focus on ensuring adequate evidence was not addressed

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Q5 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The question stems from a National World report suggesting that some cases are being charged with lesser offences, affecting the charge rate.

Question

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?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific truth or impact on charge rate was not confirmed

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