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Funding needed to improve justice in rape cases

23 June 2021
Issue: 7938 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal
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Lawyers have welcomed a government action plan on rape prosecution but warned it would only work if the criminal justice system was given more resources

Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland, acknowledged ‘systemic failings’ in the system had let victims of rape and sexual assault down. The two-year review, whose conclusions were published last week, found that only 3% of rape reports recorded by the police resulted in a charge or summons.

The action plan includes using scorecards to monitor the performance of criminal justice agencies and asking the Law Commission to tackle myths about rape and look into the use of victims’ sexual histories during evidence.

Derek Sweeting QC, Chair, Bar Council, said: ‘The investigation and prosecution of allegations of rape has been crying out for reform.

‘But without better funding for every part of the criminal justice system which deals with these cases, the government’s ambitious action plan will fail.’

Issue: 7938 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal
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