England: DPP launches attack on sitting judge over rape comments

The Director of Public Prosecutions has publicly condemned comments made by a sitting judge, accusing him of perpetuating “discredited rape myths”.

Alison Saunders said Judge Philip Shorrock’s views “lean in favour of ‘victim blaming’ culture”, after he wrote to The Telegraph to say that most trials saw the accused being “unsurprisingly” acquitted as both parties had been drinking or taking drugs and because there was no independent proof of rape.

Ms Saunders said: “It is always disappointing to hear views expressed that lean in favour of the ‘victim blaming’ culture that allowed sexual predators to offend with assumed impunity in days gone by.

“It is our job, as prosecutors, to make objective charging decisions based on the evidence, rather than the discredited rape myths that skewed the system against victims.”

Judge Shorrock wrote to the newspaper in response to a column by Allison Pearson, who accused the Lord Chancellor, Liz Truss and Ms Saunders of forming a “militant sisterhood” over supposed plans to spare alleged rape victims from having to face live cross-examination in court.

Ms Truss herself was excoriated by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd last week for apparently misunderstanding the plans of her own ministry, which he said are not for alleged rape victims, something she has since disputed, deepening the row.

In his letter, Judge Shorrock wrote: “One or both has or have been drinking and or taking drugs before the events giving rise to the complaint taking place.

“If my experience is any guide, I fear that Allison Pearson’s analysis is closer to the mark than that of Alison Saunders.”