North East rape victim support initiative rolled out nationally

The trial of a North East programme to support sexual assault victims is going to be rolled out across the rest of the country.

A North East initiative, which improved communications between prosecutors and victims of rape, is today being rolled out as part of an ambitious blueprint to transform adult rape prosecutions across England and Wales.

The Crown Prosecution Service’s new national operating model, which is being launched in tandem with police, will step up cultural and operational change right across the CPS by setting a minimum baseline for how adult rape cases are prosecuted.

Part of the model will commit to creating better lines of communications between prosecutors and the Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs), specially trained workers who directly support victims of rape. This approach to improved communication was pioneered in CPS North East, which has been one of the CPS pilot areas for new initiatives over the last year.

Gale Gilchrist of CPS North East said: “As a pilot area for Operation Soteria, we established a strong regional forum that brings together ISVAs, prosecutors and police from across the region. This forum has proven particularly effective at identifying ways in which we can provide better support to victims.

“An early suggestion from the forum was the introduction of a dedicated digital mailbox for ISVAs. This enables CPS prosecutors to swiftly answer queries from ISVAs about the progression of cases through the courts, which in turn allows ISVAs to keep victims informed about their case. The feedback about these improved channels of communication has been very positive and we are pleased to see this being rolled out further.”

“In line with other commitments in the national operating model, CPS North East has already been providing early investigative advice in an increasing number of cases, an approach which has been shown to deliver better case outcomes for more victims.”

The national operating model includes a number of key commitments, such as prosecutors providing early advice to police within 21 days and the offer of an in-person or online discussion to help build stronger cases earlier so they pass swiftly through the justice system.

The national operating model will build on the work of Operation Soteria and the Joint National Action Plan, which have already shown promising benefits of better joint working between prosecutors and police and taking a suspect-centric approach, with more case referrals, more suspects charged, and decisions made more quickly.

The refreshed pledge comes as the latest CPS quarterly national statistics show an eight per cent increase in rape referrals from police, while the number of adult rape charges have remained stable.

Max Hill KC, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “Today is a milestone for the CPS in our journey to transform the way rape cases are prosecuted.

“During my time as DPP, my main focus has always been on the victims of these abhorrent crimes; not only in ensuring we deliver justice for as many victims as possible, but also in supporting them as their case progresses through the criminal justice system.

“We know we still have a long way to go to drive lasting change, listening to partners as we go, but I am glad to see the work we have been doing through genuine partnership with police colleagues is bearing fruit with the increase in rape referrals and charges.”

As well as carrying out a rigorous internal evaluation of CPS Areas involved in Operation Soteria or other innovations, the CPS also invited an independent academic team from the University of Warwick to shine a light on how these changes have been working in practice, and their findings have been vital in strengthening the national operating model.

While a significant amount of training already goes into ensuring our specialist rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) prosecutors fully understand harmful rape myths and stereotypes so they are not influenced by them and know how to challenge them head on, we know more work still needs to be done.

The CPS also commits to delivering a victim transformation programme which will have an increased focus on the frequency and quality of communication with victims so they are kept updated at key stages of their case and better understand the criminal justice process.

In full, the NOM will commit to:

Supporting victims:

• Delivering a wider victim transformation programme, which will have an increased focus on victim communication.

• Setting up dedicated ISVA mailboxes in CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) units to create a direct line of communication between ISVAs and victims.

• Increased ISVA engagement, including attendance at victim communication scrutiny panels, ISVA forums and rape scrutiny panels (RSPs).

Early partnership working on investigations:

• Standardised early advice memorandum of understanding – including provision of early advice within 21 days and offer of a discussion with police.

• Developing joint early advice guidance and training, including the JNAP early advice podcast.

Action plan monitoring:

• Offering of a pre-charge discussion with the officer in charge, particularly those that haven’t benefited from one at early advice stage.

• Mandated RASSO Joint Operational Improvement Meetings

• Developing a standardised process for cases marked in the CPS as ‘pending response further investigation’.

Case progression and trial readiness:

• Resourcing dedicated Case Progression Managers in every RASSO Unit, as well as a Legal Manager to lead prosecution teams.

• Ensuring nationally consistent approaches to instructing counsel, through national guidance.

• Bespoke RASSO training offer for paralegal staff, including mandated court attendance.

• Continuing to deliver our wider programme of work on improving case strategies.

No further action scrutiny:

• Reframing Rape Scrutiny Panels to account for wider discussions – to be held quarterly at a minimum, with multi-agency attendance, considering both CPS and Police decisions.

• Developing national guidance and clear Terms of Reference, setting out panel make-up, case selection criteria, panel format, and how to capture learning.

• Ensuring RSPs become standard agenda items at RASSO Unit Head meetings.

• Holding an annual national RSP, and produce an annual, national evaluation report.

• Developing a clear mechanism to cascade learning both locally and nationally.

Our people:

• Developing bespoke suspect-centric approach training.

• Professionalising our RASSO Units, through clinical supervision, mandated refresher courses, courtroom exposure, and a reinvigorated focus on wellbeing in our RASSO Units.

Ensuring a consistent, high-quality national training programme is available, including bi-annual refresher courses and self-study materials.