Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Attorney General

Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Jones Excerpts
Thursday 26th May 2016

(8 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor General
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I am grateful, as always, to the hon. Gentleman. I am happy to say that, in England and Wales, the overall number of cases being brought—not just of rape but of associated violence and sexual abuse in a domestic setting—continues to increase, which means justice for thousands more victims year on year.

Helen Jones Portrait Helen Jones (Warrington North) (Lab)
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What steps has the hon. and learned Gentleman taken to ensure that the Crown Prosecution Service discusses with the police the type of evidence that needs to be on the file sent to it to secure a conviction? Has he reviewed with the Home Office police forces that are accused of putting too many rape cases in the “no crime” category without investigation?

Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor General
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To answer the hon. Lady’s latter point first, that is obviously an operational matter for the police, but the general principles and policy issues arising from it are important. That is why the Attorney General and I take great interest in the important work of the RASSO units—the specialist prosecutors—that work with the police at an early stage to identify the sort of evidence that is needed to secure convictions. The hon. Lady is absolutely right to raise that point.