Rape and Sexual Offences - Overview and index of 2021 updated guidance

27 May 2022 Updated: 31 January 2024|Legal Guidance, Sexual offences

This updated legal guidance published on 21 May 2021, following public consultation, replaces the interim guidance published in October 2020. This has been updated in January 2024, due to the commencement of the Online Safety Act 2023.

The guidance has 16 chapters and one annex.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Applying the Code for Crown Prosecutors to Rape and Serious Sexual Offences
Chapter 3: Case Building
Chapter 4: Tackling Rape Myths and Stereotypes
Chapter 5: Issues relevant to particular groups of people
Chapter 6: Consent
Chapter 7: Key Legislation and offences
Chapter 8: Statutory Limitations on prosecution of offences committed abroad
Chapter 9: Indictment
Chapter 10: Supporting Complainants in Court
Chapter 11: The Sexual History of complainants, Section 41 YJCEA 1999
Chapter 12: The Trial
Chapter 13: Sexual Offences and Youths
Chapter 14: Sentencing
Chapter 15: Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO)
Chapter 16: Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders
Annex A: Tackling Rape Myths and Stereotypes
Annex B: Statutory Limitations on prosecution of offences committed abroad - Table of legislation

Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 1: Introduction
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 2: Applying the Code for Crown Prosecutors to Rape and Serious Sexual Offences
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 3: Case Building
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 4: Tackling Rape Myths and Stereotypes
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 5: Issues relevant to particular groups of people
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 6: Consent
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 7: Key Legislation and Offences
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 8: Statutory Limitations on prosecution of offences committed abroad
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 9: The Indictment
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 10: Supporting complainants in Court
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 11: The Sexual History of Complainants, Section 41 YJCEA 1999
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 12: The Trial
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 13: Sexual Offences and Youths
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 14: Sentencing
Rape and Sexual Offences - Annex A: Tackling Rape Myths and Stereotypes
Rape and Sexual Offences - Annex B: Statutory Limitations on prosecution of offences committed abroad - Table of Legislation
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 15: Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs)
Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 16: Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders

Rape and Sexual Offences - Chapter 1: Introduction

The Code for Crown Prosecutors

The Code for Crown Prosecutors is a public document, issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions that sets out the general principles Crown Prosecutors should follow when they make decisions on cases.

Prosecution guidance

This guidance assists our prosecutors when they are making decisions about cases. It is regularly updated to reflect changes in law and practice.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

How we prosecute rape

Over the last few years, the way rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) cases are prosecuted has come under close scrutiny. At the CPS, we take the prosecution of these offences extremely seriously, and are constantly reviewing our approach to these cases in order to ensure that they are prosecuted correctly and fairly.

Continue reading How we prosecute rape