A joint thematic inspection of the police and Crown Prosecution Service’s response to rape - Phase one: From report to police or CPS decision to take no further action

Published on: 16 July 2021

Publication types: Coercive and controlling behaviour, Domestic abuse, Effectiveness, Female genital mutilation, Force management statement, Harassment and stalking, Honour-based violence, Joint inspection and Rape

Police Forces: All local forces in England and Wales

Summary

This is the first of two inspection reports that will consider the response, decision-making and effectiveness of the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) at every stage of a rape case – from first report through to finalisation of the case. This report focuses on those cases where either the police or the CPS made the decision to take no further action (that is, not to proceed with the case). The second report, considering cases from charge to disposal, will be published in winter 2021.

In conducting this phase 1 inspection, inspectors from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) gathered extensive evidence of the experiences of victims of rape in the criminal justice system. We traced their cases through police and CPS files, examining the decisions made and support offered at every stage.

We commissioned a research report, to hear about victims’ experiences directly. And we asked police and the CPS, Government departments and victim representative groups for their own qualitative and quantitative data on what it’s like to report a rape in England and Wales today.

This report sets out our findings.