Good quality prosecutorial advocacy underpins our ability to deliver timely justice. The criminal justice system needs a resilient supply of advocates \u2013 both prosecution and defence \u2013 and the Crown Prosecution Service (\u201cCPS\u201d) recognises that this is currently proving challenging, particularly in rape cases. Addressing this shortfall is a priority for the CPS.<\/p>
The CPS Advocate Panel is a time-limited quality-assured list of external junior advocates \u2013 self-employed barristers and solicitor agents \u2013 who undertake criminal prosecution advocacy for the CPS.<\/p>
There are currently around 770 advocates on the CPS\u2019 specialist Advocate Panel for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (the \u201cRASSO Panel\u201d). Whilst there has been a decline in numbers over the past five years, there has been a notable increase of just under 100 RASSO Panel advocates during the last 12 months.<\/p>
Notwithstanding this increase, with RASSO caseloads at record levels, further action is needed to drive up numbers to provide sufficient counsel. The CPS has taken steps to do so, which have included revising the entry requirements for the RASSO Panel, moving away from a written application for experienced advocates but still requiring them to have completed CPS-accredited RASSO training (or commit to do so within 3 months). A further change to support the progression of advocates into RASSO work and improving the pipeline will be announced later this month.<\/p>
The CPS is also working with the Bar to improve the provision of RASSO training, to support wellbeing, and to promote the fact that \u2013 notwithstanding the challenges \u2013 RASSO work can be hugely fulfilling and support career progression.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5365", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hermer"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Hermer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-08-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-08-12T15:54:49.287Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Rape: Prosecutions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that there are sufficient counsel available to prosecute rape offences.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4920", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Sandhurst"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Sandhurst"} ], "uin" : "HL451"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1723633", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1723633/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I work closely with other government departments, including the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, to support the Serious Fraud Office\u2019s (SFO) mission to tackle fraud. My department will continue to support this mission through our superintendence of the SFO. I visited the SFO earlier this month to learn about their important work to deliver justice for victims of economic crime and protect the UK\u2019s reputation as a safe place to do business.<\/p>
The SFO works effectively with other law enforcement agencies through the National Economic Crime Centre to collectively co-ordinate the UK\u2019s response to fraud. Earlier this year this co-ordination led to the National Crime Agency arresting four individuals following an SFO search of three sites in relation to an investigation into an alleged £140m investment fraud.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5204", "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Finchley and Golders Green"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sarah Sackman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-08-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-08-02T10:59:17.49Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fraud"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Solicitor General, what steps her Department is taking to co-ordinate with other Departments on tackling fraud through the Serious Fraud Office.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5199", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Outer"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Luke Charters"} ], "uin" : "1867"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312007", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1312007/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Requests for referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) Scheme are made to the Attorney General\u2019s Office (AGO). Many victims contact the AGO directly and do not go to the CPS, and therefore the CPS do not hold all relevant data. All requests made via the CPS are reflected in the AGO statistics.<\/p>
The AGO received 787 requests to review sentences under the ULS in 2020 and 144 requests were from victims and family members of victims. Of those 84 were eligible for review within the scheme and 14 of those were referred to the Court of Appeal. The data held by the AGO shows of the 14 cases referred: 4 were homicide cases, 8 were non-fatal offences against the person and 2 cases were categorised as rape and sexual offences. The Court of Appeal increased the sentence in 9 of those cases.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4517", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Frazer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South East Cambridgeshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lucy Frazer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-29T09:23:36.203Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sentencing: Appeals"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, how many victims contacted the CPS to make a referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme in the most recent time period for which figures are available; whether his Department holds data on the number of referrals by type of offence in the relevant cases; and how many of those referrals resulted in a change to the sentence length of the offender.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4505", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Peter Kyle"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hove"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Peter Kyle"} ], "uin" : "187283"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311838", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311838/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Unfortunately, the CPS does not hold this information. The 28-day statutory time limit is absolute; the statute provides no power to extend or to apply for leave to refer sentences to the Court of Appeal out of time. I very much welcome the introduction of the new Victim\u2019s Code which was introduced on 1 April 2021 and which places an obligation on Witness Care Officers to notify victims about the unduly lenient sentence scheme.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4517", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Frazer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South East Cambridgeshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lucy Frazer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-28T08:19:59.527Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sentencing: Appeals"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of victims that contacted the CPS to make a unduly lenient sentence referral had that referral rejected for being outside the 28 day time limit from the point of sentencing.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4505", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Peter Kyle"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hove"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Peter Kyle"} ], "uin" : "186192"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311093", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1311093/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Crown Prosecution Service takes cases of domestic abuse extremely seriously. CPS prosecutors undertake specific e-learning modules with domestic abuse training delivered to all new lawyers joining CPS Areas. In the past 12 months, 349 staff have completed evidence led prosecution e-learning and 303 advocates have completed the domestic abuse drills course (an advocacy-based course supporting prosecutors dealing with domestic abuse cases, which covers issues around bail, guilty pleas, special measures, and case management). In addition to these mandatory modules, wider training on domestic abuse is also available to prosecutors.<\/p>
As part of an ambitious domestic abuse programme launched in January 2021, the CPS is working with sector experts to review the current e-learning modules, to create additional learning opportunities and share messages with staff. The recent Domestic Abuse Best Practice Framework Conference demonstrates how key information can be shared virtually with prosecutors.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4517", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Frazer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South East Cambridgeshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lucy Frazer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-29T12:49:52.7Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-04-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Crown Prosecution Service: Training"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what mandatory training on domestic abuse CPS prosecutors have received in the last 12 months; what proportion of prosecutors have completed that training; and what evaluation has been undertaken on effectiveness of that training.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4620", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ellie Reeves"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham West and Penge"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ellie Reeves"} ], "uin" : "185461"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1309792", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1309792/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
On 23 April, the Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the management of outside interests in the Civil Service.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Committee published this letter on 26 April. It can be found here:<\/p>
2015-2016<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2016-2017<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2017-2018<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2018-2019<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2019-2020<\/strong><\/p><\/td> April - Sept 2020<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Other charge/indictment, loss/harm minor from single incident, delay between offence/charge and trial<\/p><\/td> 5,706<\/p><\/td> 4,711<\/p><\/td> 4,011<\/p><\/td> 4,194<\/p><\/td> 4,417<\/p><\/td> 6,107<\/p><\/td><\/tr> % Other charge/indictment, loss/harm minor from single incident, delay between offence/charge and trial<\/p><\/td> 0.9%<\/p><\/td> 0.8%<\/p><\/td> 0.8%<\/p><\/td> 0.8%<\/p><\/td> 1.0%<\/p><\/td> 4.3%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Total Non-Conviction Outcomes<\/p><\/td> 107,579<\/p><\/td> 94,692<\/p><\/td> 84,834<\/p><\/td> 80,474<\/p><\/td> 70,816<\/p><\/td> 21,857<\/p><\/td><\/tr> % Non-Conviction Outcomes<\/p><\/td> 16.9%<\/p><\/td> 16.1%<\/p><\/td> 15.9%<\/p><\/td> 16.3%<\/p><\/td> 15.7%<\/p><\/td> 15.4%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Total Completed Prosecution Outcomes<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 637,778<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 588,021<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 533,161<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 494,811<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 451,046<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 141,885<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> Between April and September 2020, the volume of completed prosecution outcomes reduced due to court closures and social distancing. However, the volume of cases dropped by the CPS are not as reliant on court hearings and were less impacted.<\/p> In response to COVID-19 the CPS introduced an Interim Case Review Guidance on the Application of the Public Interest<\/em>, as part of the COVID-19 crisis response. The guidance is to be applied for charging decisions, including decisions on whether to continue or discontinue a case that has already been charged. The guidance advises that when considering the question of whether a prosecution is a proportionate response, prosecutors should do so in the context of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the potential delay to criminal proceedings. Application of the principles set out in this guidance may have contributed to an increase in the proportion of cases dropped under the category of \u2018Other charge/indictment; loss/harm minor from single incident; delay between offence/charge and trial\u2019.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4517", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Frazer"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South East Cambridgeshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lucy Frazer"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-04-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-04-20T14:31:22.897Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-03-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Trials"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what estimate she has made of the number of CPS prosecutions that have been classified as no longer in the public interest as a result of delays in criminal trials beginning in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4638", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Slough"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"}
], "uin" : "178563"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1304108", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1304108/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest. However, it is a fundamental and longstanding principle of our system of Government that the fact of whether the Law Officers have advised on a particular issue is, by convention, not disclosed outside Government, without their consent. The Convention provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice in circumstances in which Ministers and Law Officers can be fully open with one another.<\/p> The Government is committed to tackling modern slavery in supply chains. On 26 March 2020, we became the first country to publish a Government Modern Slavery Statement setting out the steps we have taken to identify and prevent modern slavery in our own supply chains. From September 2021 onwards, Ministerial departments will publish their own annual statements setting out the steps they have taken in their priority risk areas.<\/p> <\/p> The Home Office is working with DHSC, NHS and external experts to develop tailored training and guidance for HMG buyers and suppliers on best practice approaches to preventing modern slavery in PPE supply chains.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4116", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Michael Ellis"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Northampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Ellis"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-03-23T17:02:56.487Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-03-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Slavery"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Sefton Central of 18 March 2021, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on concerns in respect of modern slavery in supply chains for the procurement of personal protective equipment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4061", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bill Esterson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sefton Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bill Esterson"}
], "uin" : "171587"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1303371", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1303371/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Tackling sexual violence and domestic abuse is a priority for this Government and the CPS is working hard to deliver justice and protect victims of these abhorrent crimes.<\/p> <\/p> In July 2020, the CPS published its own rape strategy \u2013 \u2018RASSO 2025\u2019. This five-year strategy outlines a programme of work specifically to help reduce the disparity between reports and criminal justice outcomes. In addition, the CPS and police published a Joint National Action Plan for rape in January of this year to improve joint handling of rape investigations and prosecutions.<\/p> <\/p> Also in January this year, the CPS published an ambitious 12-month domestic abuse programme to help narrow the disparity between reporting and criminal justice outcomes and to proactively address domestic abuse offending.<\/p> <\/p> The CPS has continued to prioritise high harms crimes including cases of sexual violence and domestic abuse throughout the pandemic and as restrictions are eased via the introduction of an Interim Charging Protocol in April 2020.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4517", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Frazer"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South East Cambridgeshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lucy Frazer"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-03-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-03-22T17:43:44.653Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-03-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offences: Prosecutions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what steps she is taking to increase the number of prosecutions for (a) domestic violence, (b) rape and (c) sexual assault; and what plans she has to ensure that victims of those crimes (i) receive appropriate support to help them navigate the criminal justice system and (ii) have faith in that system.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4378", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Colleen Fletcher"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry North East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Colleen Fletcher"}
], "uin" : "170668"}
], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "next" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=1&answeringDeptId=88&sessionNumber=1&min-ddpModified.=2020-03-16T22%3A05%3A36.486Z", "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 147, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]}
}
|