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1007134

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2018
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the CPS charging, prosecution and conviction rates related to cases of rape since 2016-17.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
	tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
	uin	191416
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>There are a number of factors that have contributed to the recent falls in the volume of suspects charged, prosecuted and convicted of rape. The 2017-18 Violence Against Women and Girls report highlighted a 9.1% fall in referrals of rape flagged cases from the police to the CPS and work is being undertaken to understand the reasons behind this trend. Prosecutors are increasingly using the process of Early Investigative Advice to work with the police early to see what can be done to strengthen the prosecution when it is needed.</p><p>Rape investigations are becoming increasingly complex due to a number of factors, including the growth in relevant digital communications evidence. To address the increasing complexity of cases the CPS have introduced new guidance to help police and prosecutors with reasonable lines of inquiry and communications evidence. There has also been a significant recruitment exercise, which was completed to ensure that RASSO units were equipped to meet the substantial increase in the volume of case referrals from the police. Between July 2015 and October 2018, the number of specialist prosecutors in RASSO units rose by 52% from 138 to 210, with overall staffing in these units increasing by more than a third.</p><p>There has been no change of approach or guidance to CPS prosecutors in their commitment towards the prosecution of rape offences. The CPS has undertaken extensive work over the last decade to ensure that specialist prosecutors are fully equipped to deal with the particular complexities of rape and serious sexual offences and that the Code for Crown Prosecutors is properly applied. This includes understanding victim vulnerabilities and the impact of rape, as well as consent, myths and stereotypes, and the particular difficulties of cases involving vulnerable witnesses and young people. In 2018-19 the CPS plans to embark upon a project to better understand the evolving nature of sexual behaviours and encounters amongst young people as there are particular challenges in cases involving young adults.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 19/11/2018 14:04:02 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
	tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell

1170431

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what the average number of days taken from a report of rape to a decision to charge was in each year since 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	2670
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>Records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) provide data showing the average number of days from receipt of the pre-charge case from the police to the decision to charge. The CPS does not have a record of the number of days from the date a crime was reported to the police to the date the police refer the case to CPS for a charging decision.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the average number of days from the date a case is received from the police to the date the decision to charge was taken for cases flagged as rape in each year from 2015/16 to 2018/19.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2015 – 2016</p></td><td><p>2016 – 2017</p></td><td><p>2017 – 2018</p></td><td><p>2018 - 2019</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Average police and CPS time to charge</p></td><td><p>52.70</p></td><td><p>67.28</p></td><td><p>77.98</p></td><td><p>107.68</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>In cases where a file is submitted to the CPS for early investigative advice or where there is insufficient evidence to bring a charge at the first referral, the prosecutor will advise the police officer on the further evidence to be gathered. Once this further evidence has been gathered the officer will return the case to the CPS in order for a charging decision to be made. With the increase in use of early investigative advice, the CPS is more often involved at an earlier stage in proceedings, which has an effect on the average number of consultations and overall timeliness.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 16/01/2020 17:24:15 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

1226465

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2020
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the 2019-20 annual report of the Victims Commissioner, what progress has been made on the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate case study review as part of the Government’s end to end rape review.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham West and Penge
	tabling member printed	Ellie Reeves
	uin	76851
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>The case study referred to in the Victims Commissioners Annual Report was HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI)’s Rape Inspection Report published on 17<sup>th</sup> December 2019, which focussed on the role of the Crown Prosecution Service.</p><p> </p><p>The Inspection and Report were carried out as a part of the cross-Government end-to-end review of the criminal justice system response to rape. One of the recommendations from this report was that HMCPSI should carry out a joint inspection with the police inspectorate, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Rescue Services (HMICFRS), of the CPS and police response to rape allegations in order to delve deeper into this issue. That inspection is expected to commence in late August 2020.</p> answering member constituency Northampton North answering member printed Michael Ellis question first answered 29/07/2020 11:18:53 answering member 4116 label Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis
	tabling member	4620 label Biography information for Ellie Reeves

1130701

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reported instances of rape led to a criminal charge in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Ashfield
	tabling member printed	Gloria De Piero
	uin	261498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>Information on the number and percentage of recorded crimes, including rapes, that led to a charge can be found in the Outcomes open data tables, which can be found here:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables%20" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables </a></p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 261499 question first answered 12/06/2019 15:05:42 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	3915 label Biography information for Gloria De Piero

1130702

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of reported instances of rape led to a criminal charge in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Ashfield
	tabling member printed	Gloria De Piero
	uin	261499
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>Information on the number and percentage of recorded crimes, including rapes, that led to a charge can be found in the Outcomes open data tables, which can be found here:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables%20" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables </a></p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 261498 question first answered 12/06/2019 15:05:42 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	3915 label Biography information for Gloria De Piero

1278172

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish the end-to-end review of the criminal justice response to rape.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	140108
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>Rape and sexual assault are devastating crimes and we want victims to have the confidence to report them, knowing that every investigation will be conducted thoroughly, and everything will be done to bring offenders to justice.</p><p>The Government is currently conducting an end-to-end review of the criminal justice response to rape, which includes identifying issues and areas for improvement in the police handling of cases. We want to ensure the review, when published, is as well evidenced as possible, so that it delivers meaningful and long-lasting change. We expect the review to report with actions for cross-system improvement in Spring.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 27/01/2021 17:00:58 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1300368

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish the end-to-end review of the criminal justice response to rape.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	164486
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>Rape and sexual assault are devastating crimes. We want all victims to have the confidence to report them, knowing that every investigation will be conducted thoroughly, and everything will be done to bring offenders to justice. That is why we commissioned an end-to-end review of the criminal justice system response to rape.</p><p>As indicated in my answer of 27 January, we expect the review to report with actions for cross-system improvement this spring. We want to ensure the review, when published, is as well evidenced as possible, so that it delivers meaningful and long-lasting change.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 16/03/2021 16:48:28 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1349562

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2021
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Home Department, with reference to page 53 of the 2020-21 annual Victims Commissioner Report published on 21 July 2021, how she plans to create confidence and trust in the Criminal Justice System for rape victims who are considering reporting an offence.
	tabling member constituency	West Ham
	tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
	uin	38222
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>In the recently published end-to-end rape review the Government set out its position that victims of rape should feel confident that only data that is relevant to their investigation will be taken from their digital devices.</p><p>We will enable this by providing strong protections for victims’ most sensitive personal information in law, enabled by the appropriate technology.</p><p>The information extraction clauses under Chapter 3 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will ensure that only information that is necessary and proportionate for an investigation is asked for from a victim.</p><p>The Code of Practice that will accompany the PCSC Bill provides detailed guidance on when and how these powers should be used. The code makes clear that device users have the right to refuse, and it also contains specific guidance on the use of the powers with victims who may be vulnerable due to the trauma they may have experienced and who may need more support.</p><p>However, legislation is only part of the solution. Whilst there are some promising new technologies, existing data extraction technology does not always provide the ability to limit appropriately what is being taken from a digital device.</p><p>To directly tackle this challenge, we will be bringing the Criminal Justice System and industry together through a joint Ministerial led technology summit to develop rapid, innovative, technological solutions. With digital evidence increasing in volume and prevalence, it is vital that we harness technology to find solutions to challenges in capacity and in our capability to effectively extract, analyse and review only relevant data from digital devices in a way which fast and not intrusive for the victim,</p><p>Using the Summit to identify innovative solutions, we will work with the policing sector to trial technologies through via Operation Soteria to identify where innovations can be scaled up at pace to make a difference for victims. The Summit will also build valuable, sustainable partnerships to ensure we continue to innovate, at pace, as threats and challenges evolve.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse grouped question UIN 38221 question first answered 10/09/2021 09:24:35 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1465208

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that people who are under investigation for rape are monitored to prevent (a) further attacks and (b) evasion of justice.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	7986
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2022 answer text <p>Individuals who are under investigation for rape may be placed on pre-charge bail when the police consider it necessary and proportionate. Conditions may be attached to this bail and are given with specific reference to factors including to ensure the person does not commit further offences or abscond from police custody. These factors are set out in existing primary legislation. Decisions on whether to bail individuals and which conditions to set against them are operational matters for individual police forces and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Where individuals breach their bail conditions, the police have a power to arrest those individuals.</p><p>We are delivering actions through the Rape Review to ensure that police investigations are efficient and consider the risks posed by suspects under investigation. This includes supporting delivery of Operation Soteria and funding the policing aspects of the programme which include the dissemination and development of best practice learning to improve the efficiency of investigations.</p><p>Furthermore, we are working with partners to improve the capabilities of police officers in relation to issues that are relevant to sexual offences. As part of the Policing Education Qualification Framework, all student police officers will receive training to identify the factors that contribute to the vulnerability of victims and witnesses and respond appropriately.</p><p>Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act we are also strengthening the regime to manage sexual offenders and those that pose a risk of sexual harm but have not been convicted. The police may apply to a court for a Sexual Risk Orders (SRO), which can be applied to any individual who poses a risk of sexual harm in the UK or abroad, even if they have never been convicted.</p><p>An SRO can place a range of restrictions on an individual depending on the nature of the case, such as limiting their internet use or preventing travel abroad. Breach of an SRO is a criminal offence punishable by a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment.</p><p>The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 now specifies that the court should apply the lower civil standard of proof (‘balance of probabilities’), rather than the criminal standard, when determining whether the individual the application is made in respect of has done the act in question.</p> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean question first answered 30/05/2022 15:52:22 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1180301

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Rape: Criminal Proceedings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps with the Home Secretary to include a joint inspection of the CPS and police in the Government's review of the criminal justice system handling of rape cases.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	20467
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The decline in the number of rape and serious sexual offences being charged and prosecuted in England and Wales is a cause for concern. We are determined to do everything we can to ensure these appalling crimes are tackled effectively and victims are supported.</p><p> </p><p>A joint inspection between HMCPSI and HMICFRS into the handling of rape cases by the Police and CPS is currently being planned.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 02/03/2020 17:57:49 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves