This week, Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) issued a report reviewing the Crown Prosecution Service’s handling of rape and other serious sexual offences.
Key findings of the report showed that the CPS is insufficiently resourcing and staffing its specialist Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) units and not following its own victim policies in a third of cases.
Though the results of the report seem damning, Rape Crisis spokesperson Katie Russell released a statement recognising that in the period since the research was conducted, the CPS have already taken measures to combat many of the issues which the report outlines.
“It’s clear that the CPS has already taken considerable steps to address most of the issues highlighted by the HMCPSI in the more than twelve months since the period its review covered,” Russell states.
(Read more of Rape Crisis’ official statement on the findings here.)
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, in response to the report, emphasised the work undertaken by the CPS in response to their own internal review, which had many of the same findings.
(You can read more of the CPS’ response to the report here.)
Recent changes introduced by the CPS include consultation with Rape Crisis and other specialist support organisations through the National Rape Scrutiny Panel, as well as the release of consent guidelines for prosecutors and the recruitment of more specialist prosecutors for sexual offence cases, and the ongoing development and delivery of specialist training.
Though these are welcome changes, it will take conscious effort on everyone’s part– not only the justice system’s– to make the cultural changes we need to ensure that more survivors of sexual crimes are able to access justice.
The steps taken so far by the CPS can be seen as part of their own long term commitment to making the criminal justice system better serve the needs of survivors.
This report comes on the heels of recent research showing that violence against women is increasing. The issue of sexual violence and violence against women is one which requires urgent attention from all of us.
In the words of Katie Russell, “it is vital that momentum is not lost and that these efforts continue.”
The report can be read in full here.