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1133329
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-19more like thismore than 2019-06-19
star this property answering body
Attorney General more like this
star this property answering dept id 88 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Attorney General more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Attorney General more like this
star this property hansard heading Sexual Offences remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Attorney General, whether he has had discussions with the CPS on removing reference to the merits-based approach from (a) guidance and (b) training materials on rape and sexual offences. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Harlow remove filter
star this property tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
unstar this property uin 266818 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-28more like thismore than 2019-06-28
star this property answer text <p>Rape and serious sexual offences are horrific crimes and can have a devastating impact on victims, and the CPS will always seek to prosecute where there is sufficient evidence to do so. The Attorney General and I regularly discuss issues related to rape and sexual offences with the CPS; however, charging decisions are made independently by the CPS.</p><p> </p><p>There has been no change in policy in how the CPS makes charging decisions in rape cases. Prosecutors in the CPS follow a ‘Code’, which sets out a well-established two stage test that a case must pass before a charge can be made. The first stage of this test is the evidential stage, which considers whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against each suspect on each charge. That test has remained and continues to remain the same. It applies to every single offence no matter how minor or serious.</p><p> </p><p>The Code that prosecutors follow has never included any specific reference to a merits-based assessment of the realistic prospect of conviction because it is an integral part of the evidential test. The second stage of the test is whether it is in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution, this is considered after the evidential stage is fulfilled.</p><p> </p><p>From 2009, DPP guidance included reference to a merits based approach.</p><p> </p><p>Following an inspection by HMCPSI in 2016, it became clear that including a separate reference to the merits based approach in the guidance was causing confusion leading to the incorrect application of the code test. To avoid this confusion, changes were made to the guidance provided by the DPP to prosecutors, including removing a document on the merits based approach.</p><p> </p><p>Those changes should not have, and did not have any impact on the proper application of the Code test that prosecutors follow when making a decision on whether to charge.</p>
star this property answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Lucy Frazer more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-28T12:06:30.213Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-28T12:06:30.213Z
star this property answering member
4517
star this property label Biography information for Lucy Frazer more like this
star this property tabling member
3985
unstar this property label Biography information for Robert Halfon more like this
1123091
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-04-25more like thismore than 2019-04-25
star this property answering body
Ministry of Justice more like this
star this property answering dept id 54 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Justice more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Justice more like this
star this property hansard heading Sexual Offences remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to encourage victims of attempted rape to report that crime to the police. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Harlow remove filter
star this property tabling member printed
Robert Halfon more like this
unstar this property uin 247665 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-05-03more like thismore than 2019-05-03
star this property answer text <p>Victims of sexual violence and abuse show immense bravery in coming forward, and we want them to have the confidence to report incidents knowing they will get the support they need and that everything will be done to bring offenders to justice.</p><p> </p><p>That is why we have nearly doubled funding for victim support services since 2013, as well as increasing the funding available to specialist rape and sexual abuse services by 10% - up to £24m over the next three years – to help provide advice, support and counselling to victims of these appalling crimes.</p><p> </p><p>We are also taking action through the Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, backed by £100 million of funding, to support victims and prevent these crimes from happening in the first place. As part of this work we will undertake a review of the criminal justice system’s response to rape and sexual offences to ensure we support survivors through every stage of this process.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Lucy Frazer more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-05-03T13:20:01.673Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-03T13:20:01.673Z
star this property answering member
4517
star this property label Biography information for Lucy Frazer more like this
star this property tabling member
3985
unstar this property label Biography information for Robert Halfon more like this