The Daily Mail has published data relating to adult rape prosecutions that were first revealed in Peter Csemiczky‘s recent blog on the HMCPSI’s inspection of CPS performance.
While the Mail article leads on the increase in the number of adult rape complainants dropping out of prosecutions, this should be seen in the context of an increase in rape prosecutions generally.
Potentially more significant are the percentage changes in rape prosecution outcomes, and it is here that Peter Csemiczky’s work is credited.
The article repeats Peter’s revelation that the proportion of adult rape prosecutions which ended in acquittal or dismissal rose from 13.6% in the financial year 2020/21 to 24.5% in the most recent financial year.
In his blog, Peter describes this as the “inevitable outcome” of poor CPS early advice and pre-charge decision making.
He told the paper: “[The] HMCPI inspection identified numerous ways in which the CPS is failing complainants and accused individuals in rape cases.
“Concerns include the CPS’s failure to provide meaningful advice to the police, failure to provide a proper analysis of evidence gathered during an investigation, and the failure to address disclosure – what material is likely to become key during the trial process.”
The Mail’s article is available here. Peter’s blog on the HMCPSI report is here.
