Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence against Women and Girls: Prosecutions

Thursday 19 March 2026 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Solicitor General announced an additional 5 million of funding for the CPS to support victims of domestic abuse.
  • The funding will enable victims to have meetings with prosecutors before Crown court trials in three pilot areas.
  • The Solicitor General committed to further engagement with Northern Ireland's Attorney General and Justice Minister on prosecution rates.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Russell Lab Congleton
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

The prosecution rates in cases of violence against women and girls are notably low, leading to concerns about the justice system's effectiveness.

Question

What steps she is taking to help increase prosecution rates for cases involving violence against women and girls. I very much welcome that news. Prosecution rates in cases involving violence against women and girls are shamefully low. I strongly welcome the Government's ambition to tackle violence against women and girls, including our manifesto commitments to fast-track rape cases and introduce specialist courts. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the Government's progress on those promises?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

Today, I can announce an additional £5 million of funding for the CPS, which will be invested to benefit victims of domestic abuse. In three pilot areas, victims will be offered meetings with prosecutors ahead of Crown court trials, ensuring that their voices are heard and better supporting them to remain engaged in the criminal justice process. This offer is already available to victims of rape and serious sexual assault across the country. From speaking with prosecutors and victims, I know the difference that those meetings can make, and I am pleased to see them extended to victims of domestic abuse. I would be more than happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss these issues in more detail.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly commit to fast-tracking rape cases or introducing specialist courts, only offered to discuss progress and announced funding for meetings with prosecutors.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Sarah Russell Lab Congleton
Justice & Courts Northern Ireland
Context

There has been a significant increase in femicide cases, with 29 women murdered since 2020 in Northern Ireland.

Question

Will she give me an assurance that she will continue to engage with Northern Ireland's Attorney General and Justice Minister to ensure that prosecution rates are also increased in Northern Ireland?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that important point, and am happy to engage further on these really important matters.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a direct commitment to continue engaging with Northern Ireland's Attorney General and Justice Minister specifically regarding prosecution rates.

How: Under Review

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Q3 Robin Swann Ulster Unionist Party South Antrim
Justice & Courts Women & Equalities
Context

There are concerns about the identification of high-risk victims and the quality and timeliness of police referrals.

Question

First, can I ask the Solicitor General to please follow up on her kind offer to chase the Justice Minister responsible for legal aid about meeting me to discuss support for domestic abuse victims? The 2024 domestic abuse joint justice plan aims to improve early co-ordination between police and the CPS. However, recent cases highlight concerns about the quality and timeliness of police referrals and CPS decision making. Does the Solicitor General agree that while the plan has improved investigations and prosecutions, a needs-based approach is absolutely essential?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that question—I know he is a strong champion on these issues. He talked about timeliness; the domestic abuse charging authority pilot, which I visited recently in Wales, is showing huge improvements in getting domestic abuse cases to court, which in turn helps with victim attrition. Turning to his point about Cornwall, I am pleased to inform him that from July 2024 to March 2026, the CPS charged over 2,800 offenders with domestic abuse, and over 2,300 were convicted. That includes over 900 convictions in Devon and Cornwall. I will continue to work with the CPS to ensure we are prosecuting VAWG offenders, including in the hon. Gentleman's constituency. I am also happy to take away his request that I chase up the meeting with the Justice Minister.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the need for a needs-based approach and did not provide concrete steps regarding the quality and timeliness of police referrals.

How: Under Review

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