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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Jun 2020
Extradition (Provisional Arrest) Bill [Lords]

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View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Extradition (Provisional Arrest) Bill [Lords]

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 13 Feb 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

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View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 13 Feb 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

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View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Written Question
Rape: Criminal Proceedings
Thursday 16th January 2020

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what the average number of days taken from a report of rape to a decision to charge was in each year since 2015.

Answered by Michael Ellis

Records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) provide data showing the average number of days from receipt of the pre-charge case from the police to the decision to charge. The CPS does not have a record of the number of days from the date a crime was reported to the police to the date the police refer the case to CPS for a charging decision.

The table below shows the average number of days from the date a case is received from the police to the date the decision to charge was taken for cases flagged as rape in each year from 2015/16 to 2018/19.

2015 – 2016

2016 – 2017

2017 – 2018

2018 - 2019

Average police and CPS time to charge

52.70

67.28

77.98

107.68

In cases where a file is submitted to the CPS for early investigative advice or where there is insufficient evidence to bring a charge at the first referral, the prosecutor will advise the police officer on the further evidence to be gathered. Once this further evidence has been gathered the officer will return the case to the CPS in order for a charging decision to be made. With the increase in use of early investigative advice, the CPS is more often involved at an earlier stage in proceedings, which has an effect on the average number of consultations and overall timeliness.


Written Question
Rape: Prosecutions
Thursday 16th January 2020

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, how many and what proportion of cases of suspected rape were given No Further Action as a result of insufficient evidence to proceed in each of the last three years.

Answered by Michael Ellis

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of suspects, flagged as rape suspects, referred to prosecutors for a pre-charge decision and the number of decisions not to prosecute suspects following the charging decision.

The table below shows the volume and percentage of legal decisions not to prosecute for evidential reasons in each year from 2016/17 to 2018/19.

2016-2017

2017-2018

2018-2019

Volume

%

Volume

%

Volume

%

Legal Decision: No Further Action: Evidential

2061

31.2%

1786

29.7

1816

35.5

Data Source: Case Management Information System


Written Question
Sexual Offences: Convictions
Thursday 16th January 2020

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Government is taking to improve conviction rates for rape and sexual offences.

Answered by Michael Ellis

Rape is a devastating offence that can have a significant and profound impact on victims, and the CPS is committed to bringing perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice. The CPS welcomes and accepts all recommendations made in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s ‘Rape Inspection’ report, published in December 2019, and joint work with the police is already underway to make improvements. This work covers a range of areas, including case progression, digital capability and disclosure, expertise, supporting victims, and stakeholder engagement.

The ongoing cross-Government review into this complex area will offer comprehensive findings across the whole criminal justice system, and I look forward to its completion.


Written Question
Sexual Offences: Prosecutions
Thursday 16th January 2020

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to increase the number of reported rape and sexual offences that are brought to trial.

Answered by Michael Ellis

The reduction in suspects charged in rape and serious sexual offence cases is a cause of concern. Both Government and the CPS are committed to exploring what improvements can be made to the handling of these horrific cases and making progress in this area.

The CPS welcomes and has accepted all recommendations made in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s ‘Rape Inspection’ report, published in December 2019, and a joint action plan with the police is already underway to make improvements. The ongoing cross-Government review into this complex area will also offer comprehensive findings across the whole criminal justice system, and I look forward to its completion. The CPS will address any issues highlighted by the review openly and honestly.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 25 Sep 2019
Legal Advice: Prorogation

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View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Legal Advice: Prorogation

Written Question
Rape: Prosecutions
Monday 24th June 2019

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of reported rape cases that were passed to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police forces of England and Wales were returned to the police for further evidence to be gathered in 2017-18.

Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Rape is a horrific crime which has a significant and profound impact on victims. It is vital to ensure that cases are investigated thoroughly in order to bring them to justice. To achieve this, it is necessary in many cases to seek further information before a prosecutor is able to determine whether or not to charge. This process ensures that cases are as robust as possible once they reach the court.

In 2017-18, cases were referred back to the Police for 61% of suspects in cases recorded as rape in the system. Whilst one situation where the CPS may refer a case back to the Police is to request further evidence, it could also be in instances when the Police have sought ‘early investigative advice’ from the CPS to assist in determining the evidence required for a charge. It is not possible to separate cases where the CPS has requested further evidence and when the Police have sought early investigative advice.


Written Question
Rape: Prosecutions
Monday 24th June 2019

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of reported rape cases in 2017-18 passed to the CPS by the police forces of England and Wales were returned to the police for further evidence to be gathered, and were not subsequently returned to the CPS with that further evidence.

Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The CPS recognises that rape and serious sexual offences have a significant and profound impact on victims. It is vital to ensure that cases are investigated thoroughly in order to bring them to justice. To achieve this, it is necessary in many cases to seek further information before a prosecutor is able to determine whether or not to charge. In such cases, an action plan requesting further evidence will be provided to the police by the CPS.

When the Police are unable to respond to the action plan, the case is administratively finalised. This is an administrative process where cases are closed on the CPS’s Case Management System if, after reminders from the CPS, the Police do not submit further information. Such cases may be reopened if, at a later date, new material is provided to the CPS by the Police enabling them to decide whether to charge.

The Police may also seek ‘early investigative advice’ from the CPS to assist in determining the evidence required for a charge. In these cases the CPS may also administratively finalise a case if after receiving CPS advice, the Police do not re-submit the case.

In 2017/18, 22% of all rape cases referred to the CPS were administratively finalised.