Quite worried by DPP @MaxHillQC comments on @BBCr4today that rape cases charged in previous yrs shdn’t have been - but since 2017 or so we have seen a COLLAPSE in the charging rate and literally 1000s less cases charged... 1/

In 2016-17 CPS charged 3671 of the 6661 rape cases (= charging rate 55.5% of considered cases). In 2018-19 CPS charged 1758 of 5114 cases (= charging rate 34.4%). That is a reduction of 52% in the volume of cases charged and a 21% reduction in the charge rate in two years... 2/

That can’t possibly be represented as a few cases that shdn’t ever have been charged - when there were also significant conviction volumes - yes, juries convinced “beyond reasonable doubt”... 3/

On this basis - the constant exhortation to victims by the DPP, repeated this morning, that they must come forward, is too much to take. How can he say that in any sincerity when the outcomes are demonstrably disastrous and when he himself casts doubt on previous prosecutions? 4/

This constant report report report exhortation is also never made with any regard to victims' characteristics - be it age, ethnicity, disability for example, or the context in which rape happened (eg violent partner, child abuse, acquaintance rape)... 5/

As a particular example - this powerful @Imkaan briefing highlights the racism different BME women experience from police/CPS/others in relation to rape, but the CPS barely even monitors rape complainant ethnicity https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Imkaan-Reclaiming-Voice-CJS-briefing-June-2020.pdf 6/. #RapeJusticeNow