The Stern Review of Rape Complaints – Call for Evidence will close on December 30th 2009

Posted on December 7, 2009
Filed Under Consultation, England, Legal Police, Rape and Sexual Assault, Wales | Comments Off

Baroness Vivien Stern CBE is leading an independent review into the way rape complaints are handled by public authorities in England and Wales. The review will examine the whole process of a rape complaint from the moment a rape is first disclosed until the court has reached a verdict.

Baroness Stern, who was asked to undertake the review by the Government, will focus on how to ensure the key agencies involved in rape complaints, such as the police, local authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service, the health service and third sector organisations work more effectively together to improve rape complainants’ treatment.

She will hear evidence from front line officers, a wide range of service providers, and third sector bodies; take account of the Victim’s Champions recent focus groups, and Women’s National Commission’s Victim consultations for the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy; and look closely at the attitude of professionals towards the crime of rape and those whose lives it has impacted.

Baroness Stern commenced the review in September 2009 and it will report in February 2010. The recommendations from the review will focus on:
* How to ensure better treatment of rape complainants
* How to encourage more victims to report rape in the first place
* How to ensure more cases progress further through the criminal justice system
* How to build confidence in the way complaints are handled

The results of the review will be shared in the New Year with the Minister for Women and Equality, the Home Secretary, the Solicitor General, and the Minister with responsibility for victims at the Ministry of Justice.

A number of pieces of work will inform the review, including:
* The work that has been done by SaraPayne, Victims Champion, focused on the experience of rape victims. Her work will inform the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy due to be published by the end of the year.
* The Alberti Taskforce: The work that is being done by Professor George Alberti, who is leading a Department of Health taskforce on the Health Aspects of Violence Against Women and Girls.
* Review of previous research and literature in this area
* Regional Visits http://www.equalities.gov.uk/stern_review/regional_visits.aspx: A series of visits around the UK where Baroness Stern will be meeting professionals involved in all aspects of rape complaints
* Baroness Stern is also inviting organisations and members of the public to submit their own evidence via this website. Have your say on line at http://www.equalities.gov.uk/stern_review/have_your_say.aspx

For more details and other links go to http://www.equalities.gov.uk/stern_review.aspx

See also:
* Peer calls for radical steps to reduce rapes – Introduce free late-night transport for women and teach boys about consent
* Review of How Rape Complaints Are Handled Announced

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