Context
The question addresses concerns about privacy violations for rape victims during legal proceedings.
Question
What steps his Department is taking to protect the privacy rights of rape victims in criminal justice processes. Recently, I was able to visit the Gwent rape investigation unit and see what an excellent job the police officers there are doing. However, can the Minister explain why the Government thought it was appropriate to boast about the so-called progress on the rape review when the proportion of cases being charged has halved since 2016, and the key adviser quit because of the lack of drive to improve outcomes for victims?
Answer from Laura Farris
I have also heard very good reports of the work that Gwent police are doing, so I am glad to hear what the hon. Lady says. We are prosecuting more rape cases than we were in 2010. Conviction rates are higher, and perpetrators are going to prison for almost 50% longer than they were in 2010; the average sentence increased from six and a half years to nine and a half years. Last week we announced the appointment of Professor Katrin Hohl, who pioneered Operation Soteria which has transformed police investigation and prosecution of rape.
Not addressed: Explained overall progress but did not address specific resignation or halving of charging rates directly
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