UK Government Solicitor General Ellie Reeves announced a major expansion of the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme across Wales.
The expansion will mean more victims of rape and serious sexual assaults, who face their cases being dropped by prosecutors, will be given the right to have their case reviewed by a different prosecutor before any final decisions are made.
Following positive feedback from an initial pilot, the scheme will now expand to three more CPS Areas. Beginning with CPS North West in January, followed by CPS Yorkshire and Humberside in early February, and CPS Cymru-Wales in April.
Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli and a longstanding campaigner on these issues, said:
“Violence against women and girls is rightly being treated as a national emergency. That’s why a key part of the government’s VAWG strategy is to ensure that victims in Llanelli and elsewhere are given better support, to help rebuild trust in the criminal justice system.”
“Keeping women and girls safe needs action as well as words, whether it’s through supporting victims, apprehending abusers or stopping violence before it starts. This change is an important building block that puts more power into the hands of victims when they bravely come forward and speak up.”
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said:
“Rape and sexual assault are abhorrent, causing long-lasting physical and emotional trauma to victims. The brave survivors who come forward deserve to have confidence that their voices have been truly heard.”
“This government is committed to halving violence against women and girls, and following a positive pilot, I have decided to significantly expand the Victim’s Right to Review into three more areas, including Wales.”
“This will increase routes to justice and above all, it will ensure victims are given fairness and dignity.”
Siobhan Blake, National CPS Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, said:
“For survivors of rape and sexual offences, the possibility that their abuser may never face justice can be deeply distressing.
“Victims deserve absolute confidence that every decision is made with care and expertise. Our specialist prosecutors usually get it right first time, but when we don’t — and a case that could have continued is stopped — an apology alone can never feel like justice.
“Victims who have taken part so far have told us that simply having this option makes a positive difference. I’m pleased we are now expanding the pilot so we can gather the evidence we need to understand the full impact and how best to support victims.”
These measures form part of the government’s VAWG strategy, which will halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.
The Strategy is focused around 3 key pillars:
• Stopping violence before it starts – challenging misogyny and promoting healthy relationships.
• Apprehending abusers – specialist rape and sexual assault teams in every police force.
• Better support for victims and survivors.
Under the current system, criminal cases can be stopped at any point if a prosecutor decides there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. While victims can ask for the decision to be reviewed under the Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) scheme, this will not change the outcome. The pilot gives victims of rape or serious sexual abuse the right for their case to be reviewed by a different prosecutor before any final decisions are made, and the chance to continue proceedings remains. If that prosecutor determines there is enough evidence, the case will continue