Call for Evidence
Introduction
HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) is planning an inspection of how the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) communicates with adult victims of rape.
Before we decide exactly what the inspection will look at, we want to hear from people and organisations with relevant knowledge or experience.
Your response will help us understand the main issues, decide what to examine in more detail, and make sure victims’ experiences are better reflected in the inspection.
We are interested in hearing about what works well and where improvement is needed.
About HMCPSI
HMCPSI is the independent inspectorate for the CPS. We inspect the work of the CPS and publish reports on its performance. Our inspections aim to support improvement and help build public confidence in the prosecution process.
About the proposed inspection
The inspection will look at how the CPS communicates and engages with adult victims of rape after a suspect has been charged and whether the CPS is effective in delivering a service to victims that meets their rights under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (VCOP)1.
It will consider what victims are told at important points in a case and how victims experience that contact.
This is an inspection of the CPS alone, it will focus on matters for which the CPS is responsible and will not assess the performance of the police, Witness Care Units, HMCTS or other organisations.
This call for evidence cannot be used to resolve individual complaints, challenge case outcomes or intervene in ongoing criminal cases.
Who should respond?
We welcome responses from people and organisations with knowledge or experience of CPS communication and contact with adult victims of rape. This may include:
- Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs);
- Victim support organisations and charities; and
- People or organisations that represent or support victims; and
- Academics and researchers.
We are seeking responses from those who support or represent victims including anonymised examples.
Inspection focus
The inspection will focus on how adult victims experience communication and contact with the CPS at important points in a rape prosecution.
This may include:
- victims’ experiences of CPS communication at the point of the charging decision being made;
- victims’ experiences of CPS communication when something important changes in a case, such as a delay, adjournment or significant development;
- pre-trial meetings;
- communication about special measures including pre-recorded cross-examination and live links.
- CPS contact with victims during court proceedings, where this is part of the CPS’s responsibility; and
- CPS contact with victims at other key points in the prosecution process.
The inspection will consider whether CPS contact helps victims understand what is happening and what they can expect next.
What is outside the scope of this call for evidence?
We have a statutory power to inspect the Crown Prosecution Service. We cannot therefore inspect the actions and services delivered by others. The inspection is aimed at assessing the enhanced service that the CPS has developed and is delivering to adult victims of rape. We will be undertaking other inspection activity in the future to assess the experience of child victims of serious sexual offending – this is therefore out of scope of this inspection.
The inspection will not look at:
- police investigations;
- police communication with victims;
- court administration, court listings or decisions made by judges;
- Witness Care Unit performance on its own;
- routine hearing, listing and adjournment notices sent by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) or Witness Care Units;
- the quality of prosecution or defence advocacy;
- Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) as a separate topic, as this will be the subject of a separate inspection.
- the performance of the Victim Communication and Liaison (VCL) scheme, VCL data, or the quality of VCL letters as separate topics, because these issues were covered in a recent inspection;
- the services provided by ISVAs;
- child victims;
- child defendants; or
- individual case complaints.
Publication and confidentiality
HMCPSI may publish responses to this call for evidence.
If you do not want us to publish your response, or part of it, please tell us when you respond and explain why. HMCPSI will consider requests for confidentiality carefully.
For more information about how HMCPSI handles personal information, please see the HMCPSI privacy policy.
How to respond
Please tell us about anonymised examples, experiences, common themes, good practice and areas that may need improvement.
Please do not include names, case numbers, addresses or other details that could identify someone.
Please do not include information that could identify victims, defendants or other people.