Buckland QC MP & Secretary of State for Justice

The Right Honourable Michael Ellis QC MP

Attorney General

The Right Honourable

Baroness Hamwee MP Chair of the Lords’ Justice and Home Affairs Committee Home Secretary By Email Only Kit Malthouse MP Minister of State for the Criminal Justice System

17th June 2021

Dear Baroness Hamwee,

THE END-TO-END RAPE REVIEW REPORT ON FINDINGS AND ACTIONS

I am pleased to write to you about the upcoming publication of the Government’s End to End Rape Review Report on Findings and Actions (“the Action Plan”) on 18th June. I have attached an embargoed copy of the Report (Annex A) and the accompanying Government Social Research report (Annex B).

As you will be aware, we have been working with partners across the Criminal Justice System to identify action to reverse the worrying decline in criminal justice outcomes for rape cases over the past five years. The current situation is unacceptable and the government is determined to change it.

This Review commits to a conscious reversal of these trends and to ensure victims feel confident that they can report these horrendous crimes to the police, that they will be treated fairly, dealt with professionally and sensitively and their perpetrators will feel the full force of the law. As a starting point, we expect to see the volume of cases referred by the police to the Crown Prosecution Service, charged by the CPS and reaching court return to 2016 levels by the end of this Parliament.

On 18th June we will be announcing an ambitious plan of actions that will seek to: - Improve support for victims throughout the criminal justice system: ensuring that every victim of rape or sexual assault has access to quality support that is suitable to their needs, wherever they are in the country, and making sure that victims can easily understand and access information about their rights. - Enabling a culture of genuine joint working between the police and CPS which enables the efficient, compassionate and fair progression of rape cases. - Ensure victims are not without their phone for more than 24 hours, that they are only asked to disclose information where it is necessary and proportionate and that they are able to confidently challenge requests for digital evidence where they have concerns over requests. - Manage the experience of going to court with care and consideration, without compromising the principle of a fair trial: ensuring that victims receive clear, prompt communications throughout, that special measures are available that meet their needs and that only evidence that is pertinent to the case is deployed at court.

T 020 3334 3555 E: https://contact-moj.service.justice.gov.uk/ 102 Petty France F 0870 761 7753 London SW1H 9AJ

These actions will build upon the significant work that is already taking place by operational partners included the police, Crown Prosecution Service and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service. We will publish regular scorecards to show how the whole system is performing to ensure not only that performance improves, but that it is sustained. This Action Plan represents just the beginning of the work in improving outcomes for victims of rape and sexual violence.

I will be laying this report before the House on 18th June, and the full Rape Review Report on Findings and Actions, as well as the accompanying Government Social Research Report, will be available publicly tomorrow on gov.uk.

Yours sincerely

Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Rt Hon Priti Patel MP Home Secretary

Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP Attorney General

Kit Malthouse MP Minister of State for the Criminal Justice System

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