Increase in rape cases going to court in the West Midlands
New figures have been released by the CPS
Prosecutors in West Midlands are steadily increasing the number of rape cases that go to court as a result of working more closely with police forces.
New figures from CPS internal data show that the number of rape-flagged cases charged in the West Midlands Area, which covers West Midlands, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and West Mercia increased from 192 in 2021 to 247 in 2022.
The approach is central to a new national operating model being rolled out across England and Wales today learning from what has worked in areas like the West Midlands which have piloted the new approaches as part of Operation Soteria.
The new CPS approach also includes better communication with victims and engaging with Independent Sexual Violence Advisors who come along side victims increasing the support available for them as they go through the criminal justice process.
Douglas Mackay, from CPS West Midlands, said:
“The launch of the National Operating Model builds on our work over the past few years in the West Midlands and the lessons we have learned from Operation Soteria to improve the handling of rape cases through better victim communication and early investigative advice.
“We are pleased that we can continue to develop and improve the processes which support partnership working with police forces across the West Midlands so that more victims of sexual offences can get justice."
But Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said: "While we have seen some progress, the Government have been too quick to claim that they've tangibly changed the justice system for rape survivors.
"We're barely off the starting blocks, but we now have a roadmap which is going to need a lot of support to realise its ambitions.
"It still remains the case that the vast majority of rape survivors don't report to the police, and the majority who do will leave the system altogether due to the barriers to justice they find themselves up against."