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The CPS are in court today facing accusations from @centreWJ and @EVAWuk, that a covert change in rape policy lead to a sharp fall in prosecutions. Story from me and @caelainnbarr >> 1/6 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jan/26/victims-speak-out-ahead-of-legal-challenge-to-cps-policy-rape?CMP=share_btn_tw
I spoke to women who told me they felt utterly defeated by their dealings with the CPS. “Unless you’ve been through the system, you wouldn’t realise just how badly it is going wrong," one woman told me 2/6 https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/jan/26/victims-battles-with-cps-i-dont-have-words-for-how-betrayed-i-feel
It's a huge day for CPS DPP Max Hill who has consistently insisted there has been no change in policy. In 2018 we first revealed that director of legal services Gregor McGill had lead a secret 'roadshow' to boost rape conviction rates 3/6 https://www.theguardian.com/law/2018/sep/24/prosecutors-rape-cases-cps-crown-prosecution-service-conviction-rates
It's worth noting, which the DPP routinely doesn't, that the CPS has been decimated by austerity, losing 1/3 of its staff since 2010.
Since 2011/12 prosecutions for all crimes fell by 46%. But rape prosecutions have fallen by 60% in the past 3 years 4/6 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/30/convictions-fall-record-low-england-wales-prosecutions
Since 2011/12 prosecutions for all crimes fell by 46%. But rape prosecutions have fallen by 60% in the past 3 years 4/6 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/30/convictions-fall-record-low-england-wales-prosecutions
In the past the CPS has pointed to a drop in police referrals, which have also dropped by 40% in the last 3 years. But officers say it's getting harder to get a charge. This summer senior officers raised alarms about CPS charging policy 5/6 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/30/prosecution-service-under-fire-over-record-low-convictions
It's a remote two-day hearing that me and @caelainnbarr will be listening in to, but very possible judgement will be reserved. The political and policy implications of that decision could be massive. 6/6
