The End Violence Against Women Coalition argued the CPS has ditched its merits-based approach to prosecuting serious sexual offences. But the Court of Appeal has today thrown out the challenge.
Court of Appeal rejects case over alleged Crown Prosecution Service change in rape prosecution policy yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A COURT has dismissed a case against the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over plummeting rape prosecutions in a decision that marks “another Establishment betrayal” of victims, campaigners said today.
The End Violence Against Women (EVAW) coalition had argued that a change in policy has resulted in a “shocking and unprecedented” decline in rape prosecutions.
The group argued that from 2016 to 2020 the prosecution service had moved away from a “merits-based approach” to decide which cases of alleged serious sexual assault should be charged.
Lawyers for the women’s rights group said the CPS instead took a risk-averse approach as part of policy changes to reduce the proportion of rape charges that end in an acquittal, arguing this amounted to “systemic illegality.”