Rape

The Crown Prosecution Service is "in denial" about declining rape prosecutions and convictions, the victims' watchdog has told The Times. Recent figures from the CPS show that while recorded rapes have increased over the past six years to 58,657 in 2018, charges, prosecutions and convictions for the

Scotland is considering the creation of a dedicated sexual offences court, a judge has said. Lord Matthews said in a speech at the Third International Advocacy Conference in Nottingham that a judge-led sexual offences review group is considering the measure.

Complainers in sex crime cases should be given independent legal representation to allay their "perception" that the adversarial trial system is "weighted in favour of the accused", according to new research. The proposal is among a number of recommendations made in a report published today by the S

Suspected sex offenders should remain anonymous until charged so long as they have a reputation to protect, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland QC has said. The new Lord Chancellor, who backed a campaign by Sir Cliff Richard and Paul Gambaccini to impose a ban on revealing the names of people arrested

A law professor representing Harvey Weinstein in his upcoming rape and sexual assault trial has been dropped from his position as a faculty dean at Harvard Law School. Professor Ronald S. Sullivan Jr and his wife, fellow law lecturer Stephanie Robinson, will no longer be faculty deans of Winthrop Ho

Restricted public access to rape trials and the provision of publicly-funded legal advice to complainants are among the final recommendations of the judge-led review into serious sexual offence trials.

Looking at the mobile phone data of rape complainants is "common sense", essential for a fair trial and does not alter the existing statutory regime, lawyers have said. Jerry Hayes, a former Conservative MP and barrister, said the rules were clear and that “the police are not entitled to trawl

Controversial police requests to access the mobile phones of rape and sexual assault complainants in England and Wales could face the same legal difficulties as Police Scotland's shelved "cyber kiosks", a civil liberties expert has warned. Dr Nick McKerrell, lecturer in law at Glasgow Caledonian Uni

Rape prosecutions have declined to their lowest rate in more than five years, The Guardian reports. Figures reveal that a third of the 2,310 rape cases referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) between April and September of last year saw charges brought.

Proposals to improve forensic medical services for rape and sexual assault complainers have been launched. The consultation, which addresses recommendations made by the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMICS) to strengthen delivery of healthcare and forensic medical services, will s