Rochdale’s MP Paul Waugh has welcomed the expansion of a new national pilot giving survivors of rape and serious sexual assault the right to have cases reviewed before prosecutors make a final decision to drop them.
From this week, the North West becomes one of the first regions in the country to take part in the expanded Victims’ Right to Review pilot, launched by the Attorney General’s Office and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Under the pilot, victims of rape and serious sexual offences whose cases are being considered for closure will be given the opportunity for that decision to be reviewed by a different prosecutor before it becomes final. The aim is to ensure victims’ voices are properly heard, to improve confidence in the justice system, and to prevent cases being closed prematurely.
The expansion follows a successful initial pilot in the West Midlands and forms part of the government’s wider Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which commits to halving violence against women and girls over the next decade.
Paul Waugh MP said:
“Violence against women and girls is a national emergency. In Rochdale, I have met women who do everything they can to keep themselves safe, changing routes, using safety apps, planning their lives around risk. But women should not have to organise their lives around fear. The responsibility lies with all of us to make our streets, our institutions and our justice system work for them.
“This new right for rape and serious sexual assault survivors to have dropped cases reviewed before a final decision is made is an important step in rebuilding trust. It puts victims where they belong, at the heart of the system.”
Paul has repeatedly raised the experiences of women and survivors in Parliament. This week he told the Commons about research by the University of Manchester which found that 19% of women runners had been followed and 7% had been flashed, arguing that real safety depends on visible policing, better lighting, effective use of CCTV, and tackling misogyny in schools and workplaces.
He has also challenged ministers on the treatment of rape victims in court, highlighting the trauma many face when confronting their attackers and raising concerns about victims being smeared during trials. He pressed the government to implement reforms so victims are treated with dignity and to strengthen the use of evidence around previous domestic abuse.
In December, he praised the work of Rochdale’s multi-agency Sunrise team, which supports victims of grooming, domestic abuse and sexual violence, and urged other areas to learn from how local services and police have improved safeguarding and support for women.
Paul added:
“In Rochdale we have seen how strong local partnerships can make a real difference, whether through specialist policing, safeguarding teams, or support for survivors. But too many women still feel the system is stacked against them. Giving survivors a real chance to challenge decisions before their case is closed is about fairness, accountability and basic respect.”
The Victims’ Right to Review pilot will roll out across the North West from this week, before expanding to Yorkshire and the Humber and then Wales later this year.