Tonia Antoniazzi, MP for Gower, backs plan to give more rape and sexual assault survivors right to have dropped cases reviewed

The Strategy is focused around 3 key pillars:
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• Stopping violence before it starts - challenging misogyny and promoting healthy
relationships.
• Apprehending abusers - specialist rape and sexual assault teams in every police
force.
• Better support for victims and survivors.

This week, the Solicitor General Ellie Reeves announced a major expansion of the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme across Wales.

The expansion will mean more victims of rape and serious sexual assaults, who face their cases being dropped by prosecutors, will be given the right to have their case reviewed by a different prosecutor before any final decisions are made.

Following positive feedback from an initial pilot, the scheme will now expand to three more CPS Areas. Beginning with CPS North West in January, followed by CPS Yorkshire and Humberside in early February, and CPS Cyrmu-Wales in April.

Tonia Antoniazzi, MP for Gower, said “Violence against women and girls is a national emergency. That’s why a key part of our government’s VAWG strategy is to ensure that victims in Gower are given better support, to help rebuild trust in the criminal justice system.”

“This government is taking action on keeping women and girls safe, whether it’s through supporting victims, apprehending abusers or stopping violence before it starts.”

Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said “Rape and sexual assault are abhorrent, causing long-lasting physical and emotional trauma to victims. The brave survivors who come forward deserve to have confidence that their voices have been truly heard.”

“This government is committed to halving violence against women and girls, and following a positive pilot, I have decided to significantly expand the Victim’s Right to Review into three more areas, including Swansea”

“This will increase routes to justice and above all, it will ensure victims are given fairness and dignity.”

Siobhan Blake, National CPS Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, said “For survivors of rape and sexual offences, the possibility that their abuser may never face justice can be deeply distressing.

“Victims deserve absolute confidence that every decision is made with care and expertise. Our specialist prosecutors usually get it right first time, but when we don’t — and a case that could have continued is stopped — an apology alone can never feel like justice.

“Victims who have taken part so far have told us that simply having this option makes a positive difference. I’m pleased we are now expanding the pilot so we can gather the evidence we need to understand the full impact and how best to support victims.”

These measures form part of the government’s VAWG strategy, which will halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.