Prosecution data covering the first full year of the coronavirus pandemic has been published by the CPS today.

New minimum standards for the support of rape and sexual violence victims have today (Friday 18 June) been published by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

CPS London South legal manager and case progression officer working in recognised by the Queen in her birthday honours.

The findings of the CPS review for completed prosecutions in April under the Coronavirus Act and Health Protection Regulations – and a running total for all cases since March 2020 – are detailed in the table below.

The first ever CPS Economic Crime strategy sets out an ambitious plan to combat these offences which are estimated to cost billions each year.

These are just some of the successful cases prosecuted by CPS London South in recent weeks.

The findings of the CPS review for completed prosecutions in February under the Coronavirus Act and Health Protection Regulations are detailed in the table below.

On 26 and 27 January, the Court of Appeal heard a judicial review launched by the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) coalition against the CPS. Their case was that a change to CPS rape and serious sexual offences guidance amounted to an illegal change of approach to prosecuting rapes, which has contributed to falling levels of these cases.

Victims, witnesses and defendants have been promised actions to reduce delays in case progression and to support the timely delivery of justice. The Crown Prosecution Service, National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing have published the National Case Progression Commitment, which outlines the work ongoing to address the barriers to effective case progression.

As part of a collective effort across the criminal justice system to tackle the discrepancy between rape and sexual offence cases being reported and taken to court, senior police officers and legal managers across the country are now working closer and communicating more regularly. In the West Midlands, this has contributed to a 33% rise in charges for rape and serious sexual offences.