After a two-year wait, the government publishes its highly anticipated ‘end-to-end’ review of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) handling of rape cases in England and Wales.

Diana Fawcett, Chief Executive at independent charity Victim Support, said:

While it’s important that the government has recognised the serious challenges faced by rape survivors, and conducted this review at a time when urgent, systemic change has never been more critical with prosecution rates at dismal levels, this report is lacking in ambition in some areas.

“The government’s aim to return to 2016 caseload levels for rape wrongly implies that it was a time when the justice system worked well for victims and survivors. This was not the case.

“In fact, we know of some rape and sexual violence survivors who have been waiting up to three years to have their day in court, causing them significant distress, and there needs to be a target to bring down the long waits for trial. More needs to be done to address the ways in which victims are failed by the whole justice system and the forthcoming Victims’ Bill must bring about tangible change in the way victims are treated.”

For more information, please contact Victim Support’s press office, press@victimsupport.org.uk or call 07766 070660.