Operation Soteria is a significant step-change in Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Police ways of working to ensure national consistency in the approach to handling adult rape cases.<\/p>
Since the launch of Operation Soteria pilots, the CPS has observed consistent improvements in performance on rape prosecutions.<\/p>
For example, in CPS London North we have seen significant improvements in our prosecutions flagged as adult rape, with a 24% increase in the calendar year 2022 compared to 2021. Similarly, charging decisions on cases flagged as adult rape have also increased in CPS London North, by 41% in the calendar year 2022 compared to 2021.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4497", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Tomlinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Dorset and North Poole"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Tomlinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-07-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-07-05T09:12:14.46Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Rape: Prosecutions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of Operation Soteria on the level of prosecution for rape offences.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"} ], "uin" : "191289"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1648146", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1648146/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Each CPS Area has a lead prosecutor for cases involving children, who is equipped to deal with complex casework and provide support to other prosecutors.<\/p>
In May 2023, the CPS published the single biggest update to their legal guidance on Children as Suspects and Defendants, which can be found here: Children as suspects and defendants | The Crown Prosecution Service (cps.gov.uk)<\/a>. This guidance sets out the approach prosecutors should take when applying the\u202fCode for Crown Prosecutors<\/a>\u202fwhen deciding whether to prosecute children. This update incorporates all recent policy, terminology, and legislative updates, and is intended to reflect a \u2018Child First\u2019 justice principle.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4497", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Dorset and North Poole"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-07-04T13:57:59.193Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prosecutions: Children"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to adopt a child-first approach to prosecuting people under the age of 18.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "191290"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1648148", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1648148/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Serious violent crime encompasses many different crime types but is more commonly associated with drug crime, knife crime, gun crime and homicide.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4497", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Dorset and North Poole"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-07-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-07-05T14:44:28.123Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Crimes of Violence: Prosecutions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of prosecution of serious violent crime in London.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "191292"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1624096", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1624096/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Attorney General\u2019s Office (AGO) leases part of an estate which is managed by the Ministry of Justice and the Government Property Agency. The AGO therefore does not manage the quality of the water on the estate.<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4497", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Dorset and North Poole"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-05-17T08:46:44.99Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-04-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Attorney General: Water"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what progress his Department has made on achieving water neutrality on his Department's estate.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "182838"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1612563", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1612563/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The CPS has a comprehensive programme of learning and wellbeing support for all lawyers prosecuting rape and serious sexual offences, including those in London. All lawyers dealing with such casework are required to undertake bespoke training providing a clear understanding of the complexities surrounding the offence, the suspect centric approach, the impact of trauma upon victim\u2019s memory and how to reach Code compliant decisions and assessment of evidence. The wellbeing of all lawyers and paralegals dealing with such offences is paramount and as such, timely and accessible wellbeing support mechanisms are in place to support the mental and physical wellbeing of those dealing with traumatic material.<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4497", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Dorset and North Poole"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-04-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-04-26T16:29:20.54Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-04-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sexual Offences: Greater London"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of support provided to Crown Prosecution Service lawyers prosecuting rape and serious sexual offences in London.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "181853"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1612564", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1612564/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The United Kingdom stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in its fight for accountability for Russia\u2019s actions.<\/p> The Attorney General has regular contact with her Ukrainian counterpart, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin. She visited him in Kyiv and joined him at Ukraine\u2019s United for Justice conference in Lviv over 3 to 5 March, and more recently hosted him in London for the UK-Dutch Justice Ministers\u2019 Conference in support of the International Criminal Court\u2019s investigation into the situation in Ukraine.<\/p> Prosecutor General Kostin is responsible for the extraordinary task of investigating and prosecuting crimes committed in Ukraine and has opened over 80,000 files covering a range of alleged offences. The Ukrainian authorities have brought successful war crimes prosecutions already in Ukraine\u2019s domestic courts, in real time during this live and brutal conflict \u2013 a practically unprecedented achievement.<\/p> We are supporting Ukraine in their domestic legal processes through a number of significant initiatives. We have recently concluded a judicial training programme in the region, led by Sir Howard Morrison KC, training over 100 judges in person on the conduct of war crimes trials.<\/p> The UK, together with the United States and EU, has also launched the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA) to directly support the War Crimes Units of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine in its investigation and prosecution of conflict-related crimes. The ACA seeks to streamline coordination and communication efforts to ensure best practices, avoid duplication of efforts, and encourage the expeditious deployment of financial resources and skilled personnel to respond to the needs of the OPG as the legally constituted authority in Ukraine responsible for dealing with the prosecution of war crimes on its own territory.<\/p> This government remains steadfast in its ongoing support to Ukraine\u2019s search for justice.<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4497", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Dorset and North Poole"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-05-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-05-03T09:10:44.687Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-04-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "War Crimes: Ukraine"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what recent discussions she has had with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General on the progress of criminal investigations and prosecutions in that country into potential war crimes perpetrated during the Russian invasion.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "181854"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1611934", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1611934/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) runs an award-winning and highly competitive legal trainee scheme that has seen hundreds of trainees undertake a training contract and/or pupillage across England and Wales with the CPS since 2012. The CPS has extended its post graduate qualification requirements, to include not only the LPC and Bar Qualification, but the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination, which opens a career in law to a broader and more diverse audience.<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4497", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Dorset and North Poole"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-04-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-04-26T16:28:15.323Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-04-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Crown Prosecution Service: Recruitment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to increase its number of legal trainees.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"}
], "uin" : "181477"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1564849", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1564849/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "