Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, what discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders in the North East on the Rape Action Plan.

In July 2025, His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) published its

inspection report on early advice and pre-charge decision-making in adult rape cases. In

response to the report’s recommendations, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is implementing

a new Rape Action Plan.

The Plan aims to ensure that the quality of the CPS’s rape casework is of a consistently high

standard, with a focus on providing enhanced oversight of legal decision-making, supporting and

upskilling prosecutors, and increasing public confidence. The Plan is still under development and

has not yet been finalised.

Following the publication of the HMCPSI report, the CPS convened an engagement session with

national stakeholders from the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector to discuss the

findings and outline the actions the CPS would be taking under a new Rape Action Plan. The

CPS continues to engage regularly with these stakeholders through its established consultation

group. At a local level, CPS Areas maintain a range of engagement mechanisms, including local

scrutiny panels and dedicated Inclusion and Community Engagement Managers. Both national

and local channels will be used to keep relevant stakeholders informed as the Rape Action Plan

progresses.

The CPS remains resolute in its determination to increase the number of rape cases capable of

being taken to court each year, so that more victims – irrespective of their background and

circumstances – can see justice. It greatly values the expertise and insights of external

stakeholders and is grateful for their continued engagement as it works towards this ambition.