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Sexual Offences

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 updated the law, much of which dated back to 1956.

The main provisions of the Act include the following:

  • Rape is widened to include oral penetration
  • Significant changes to the issue of consent
  • Specific offences relating to children under 13, 16 and 18
  • Offences to protect vulnerable persons with a mental disorder
  • Other miscellaneous offences
  • Strengthening the notification requirements and providing new civil preventative orders

Find out more about how we prosecute sexual offences

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Home » News Centre » Press Releases » Launch of CPS rape policy statement

Launch of CPS rape policy statement

30/06/2004

A new public policy statement on how rape cases are handled will be launched by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald QC, and the Solicitor General, The Rt Hon Harriet Harman, QC MP, at the end of the month.

The policy statement is designed to explain to members of the public, and particularly victims and witnesses of rape offences, how rape prosecutions are carried out. Its aim is to encourage more rape victims to come forward and to give them greater confidence in the process.

The DPP said: "This document follows a number of other public policy statements such as those on domestic violence, homophobic crime and religious and racially aggravated offences. All these documents are aimed at inspiring the confidence of the communities we serve by explaining exactly what we do and how we do it. And they reassert the CPS' commitment to serving victims and witnesses and strengthening the prosecution process to bring offenders to justice.

"This latest document is designed to show that we take all allegations of rape seriously, whatever the sex, culture, race or sexual orientation of the victim."

The Solicitor General said: "Whether committed by a stranger or a friend, work colleague or partner, rape is a callous, brutal attack which leaves the victim - and very often those around the victim such as family and friends - profoundly affected. Victims are entitled to say no.

"Yet although the number of rapes reported to the police has increased dramatically over the years, it is clear that very many rape victims still don't go to the police or, if they do, find themselves unable to go through with the court proceedings in which they will usually be the most important and essential witness.

"Rape is still less likely to be reported, less likely to result in a charge and less likely to be prosecuted than other serious crimes.

"That's why this policy is so important. In showing how seriously the CPS takes rape allegations, it will encourage victims to come forward and get the support they need."

Notes to Editors

  1. The launch will be held on Wednesday, June 30th, 2004 at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre (opposite Westminster Abbey), from 9.30am - 11am for press.
  2. Journalists are invited to attend the first half of proceedings, to hear speeches by Mr Macdonald, Ms Harman and two specialist rape prosecutors. They will all be available for questions after the speeches.
  3. The Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape will be launched as part of a wider event organised by the Crown Prosecution Service. The Rape Co-ordinators Event will bring together CPS Area Co-ordinators who are experts in this field of policy.
  4. The new public statement was put together following the publication of the Report on the Joint Inspection into the Investigation and Prosecution of Cases involving Allegations of Rape in April 2002. Since that report, the CPS and police have been working to improve the way in which these cases are handled from the time the crime is reported to the police and right through the criminal justice process.
  5. The statement was written following consultation exercises with the voluntary sector and organisations representing rape victims.
  6. The public policy statement also has annexed to it the contact details of community groups that offer invaluable help to victims of rape.
  7. Each of the 42 CPS areas now has in place specialist prosecutors, who are responsible for reviewing all cases involving rape allegations. Many of these specialist prosecutors also have expertise in conducting child abuse prosecutions. In addition every Area has nominated one of their specialist rape prosecutors to act as a rape coordinator. Their role is to monitor rape cases within the area; network and share good practice with other area rape coordinators and with HQ; liaise with external Criminal Justice System agencies and the voluntary sector and be a source of expertise. The rape co-coordinators liaise closely with the CPS domestic violence co-ordinators. Such liaison is particularly crucial in view of the fact that in many rape cases the offender is the partner (or other family member) of the victim.
  8. For more information, to confirm attendance or to contact the rape specialist co-ordinator in your area, please contact CPS Press Office on 020 7796 8105. To request an interview with Harriet Harman, please contact the Attorney General's office, on 020 7271 2465.
  9. Agenda of the launch event available on our website.