Violence Against Women and Girls
The CPS developed a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy, not only as a result of the importance the Service places on improving prosecutions of these crimes and supporting victims, but also in recognition of the United Nations, Council of Europe and End Violence Against Women Campaign initiatives and as part of the cross-government VAWG strategy (the cross-government VAWG narrative and action plans are available from the Home Office website. Our commitment to this work is reflected in the fact that CPS includes Violence Against Women and Girls in its key priorities. This section provides links to policy and guidance reports on Violence against Women and prosecution performance information. It includes VAWG work in relation to:
- domestic violence;
- forced marriage;
- honour-based violence;
- female genital mutilation;
- rape and sexual offences;
- prostitution;
- trafficking;
- child abuse; and
- pornography
In recognising these forms of violence against women and girls, the CPS does not neglect abuse directed towards men or perpetrated by women. Male victims will receive the same access to protection and legal redress and the gender of the perpetrator does not make any difference to the CPS approach to bringing offenders to justice.
Policy and Guidance
Title
Violence Against Women Strategy and Action Plans
Description
The CPS Violence Against Women (VAW) strategy sets out the vision for developing our VAW work, building on the work of 2006-07, and provides supporting action plans for future work.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Violence Against Women Strategy and Action Plans (opens in new window)
Violence Against Women Strategy and Action Plans - English - PDF
Violence Against Women Strategy and Action Plans - Welsh - PDF
Title
Violence against Women Legal Guidance
Description
This sets out the CPS's policy and guidance in relation to violence against women and girls.
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section on this site
Violence Against Women Legal Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Equality and Diversity Impact Assessment on the Violence against Women Strategy and Action Plan
Description
This impact assessment was carried out to assess the likely impact of the strategy and to help establish if there was any significant disproportionality in terms of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion or belief or age.
Format
Available online in the Publications section on this site
Impact Assessment on the Violence against Women Strategy and Action Plan (opens in new window)
Title
An Employee's Guide on Violence Against Women
Description
A guide for CPS members of staff, managers and colleagues on violence against women, addressing women and men as victims/survivors or alleged perpetrators of these incidents.
Format
Available to download from the Publications section on this site
An Employee's Guide on Violence Against Women (PDF - opens in new window)
Title
Domestic Violence Prosecution Policy and Guidance
Description
This sets out the CPS's policy and guidance in relation to cases of Domestic Violence
Format
Available online in the Publications section on this site
Domestic Violence Prosecution Policy and Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Legal Guidance on Prosecuting Cases of Stalking and Harassment
Description
This sets out the CPS's legal guidance on cases of stalking and harassment.
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section of this website
Stalking and Harassment Legal Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Rape Prosecution Policy and Guidance
Description
This sets out the CPS's policy and guidance in relation to cases of Rape
Format
Available online in the Publications section on this site
CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape (opens in new window)
Available to download from the Publications section on this site
Rape prosecution policy (updated 2012) (PDF - opens in new window)
Polisi’r CPS ar Erlyn Achosion o Dreisio (adnewyddwyd 2012) (PDF)
Title
Legal Guidance on Perverting the Course of Justice - charging in cases involving rape and/or domestic violence allegations
Description
This sets out the CPS's legal guidance on cases of perverting the course of justice where allegations of rape and/or domestic violence are involved.
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section of this website
Perverting the course of justice - charging in cases involving rape and/or domestic violence allegations: Legal Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Legal Guidance on Prosecuting Cases of Prostitution and Exploitation of Prostitution
Description
This sets out the CPS's legal guidance in relation to cases of Prostitution and Exploitation of Prostitution
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section on this site
Prostitution and Exploitation of Prostitution Legal Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Human Trafficking
Description
This sets out the CPS's policy and guidance in relation to cases of Human Trafficking
Format
Available as a PDF download from the Publications section on this site
Human Trafficking Prosecution Policy and Guidance (PDF - opens in new window)
Title
Guidance on Identifying and Flagging Cases of Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence
Description
This sets out the CPS's guidance on Identifying and Flagging Cases of Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section on this site
Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence Identification and Flagging Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Guidance on Prosecuting Cases of Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence
Description
This sets out the CPS's guidance on Prosecuting cases of Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section on this site
Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence Legal Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Legal Guidance on Prosecuting Cases of Female Genital Mutilation
Description
This sets out the CPS's legal guidance in relation to cases of Female Genital Mutilation
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section on this site
Female Genital Mutilation Legal Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Legal Guidance on Prosecuting Cases of Prohibited Images of Children
Description
This sets out the CPS's legal guidance in relation to cases of Prohibited Images of Children
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section on this site
Prohibited Images of Children Legal Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Legal Guidance on Prosecuting Cases of Child Abuse
Description
This sets out the CPS's legal guidance in relation to cases involving Child Abuse
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section on this site
Child Abuse Legal Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Legal Guidance on Prosecuting Cases of Obscene Publications
Description
This sets out the CPS's legal guidance in relation to cases involving Obscene Publications
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section on this site
Obscene Publications Legal Guidance (opens in new window)
Title
Specialist Domestic Violence Courts within each Local Criminal Justice Board area
Description
The Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) programme has been running since 2005 and in 2011 there were 143 SDVCs with support for victims through Independent DV Advisers (IDVAs) and assessment of high risk victims through Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs). The following list provides information about the locations of SDVCs and includes all changes that occurred in 2012. The CPS continues to be part of a cross-Government National Steering Group with the Home Office and Ministry of Justice overseeing SDVCs.
Format
Available online in this section
Specialist Domestic Violence Courts within each Local Criminal Justice Board area
Performance Information
Title
CPS Violence against Women and Girls crime report 2011-2012
Description
This is the fifth Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) annual report, and covers the following strands of Violence against Women and Girls for 2011-12: domestic violence; harassment; rape and sexual offences; human trafficking; prostitution; child abuse; and pornography.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
CPS Violence against Women and Girls crime report 2011-2012 - English PDF
CPS Violence against Women and Girls crime report 2011-2012 - Welsh PDF
CPS Violence against Women and Girls crime report 2011-2012 - Statistics PDF
Underlying data relating to the fifth CPS Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) annual report
Title
Violence against Women and Girls Strategy 2008-2011: An assessment of success
Description
This document looks at the success of the CPS's Violence against Women and Girls strategy for the period 2008-2011 and the key areas that need to be focused on going forward.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
CPS's Violence against Women and Girls Strategy 2008-2011: An assessment of success - English PDF
CPS's Violence against Women and Girls Strategy 2008-2011: An assessment of success - Welsh PDF
Archive publications by year
2011
Title
CPS Violence against Women and Girls crime report 2010-2011
Description
This is the fourth Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) annual report, and covers the following strands of Violence against Women and Girls for 2010-11: domestic violence; harassment; rape and sexual offences; human trafficking; prostitution; child abuse; and pornography.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
CPS Violence against Women and Girls crime report 2010-2011 - English PDF
CPS Violence against Women and Girls crime report 2010-2011 - Welsh PDF
CPS Violence against Women and Girls crime report 2010-2011 - Statistics PDF
Underlying data relating to the fourth CPS Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) annual report
2010
Title
CPS Violence against Women crime report 2009-2010
Description
This is the third Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Violence against Women (VAW) annual report, and covers the following strands of Violence against Women for 2009-10: domestic violence; forced marriage; honour based violence; female genital mutilation; rape and sexual offences; human trafficking; prostitution; child abuse; and pornography.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
CPS Violence against Women crime report 2009-2010 - English PDF
CPS Violence against Women crime report 2009-2010 - Welsh PDF
Underlying data relating to the third CPS Violence against Women (VAW) annual report
2009
Title
CPS Violence against Women crime report 2008-2009
Description
This is the second Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) annual Violence against Women (VAW) performance report, and covers the following strands of Violence against Women for 2008-09: domestic violence; forced marriage; honour based violence; female genital mutilation; rape and sexual offences; human trafficking; prostitution; child abuse; and pornography.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
CPS Violence against Women crime report 2008-2009 - English PDF
CPS Violence against Women crime report 2008-2009 - Welsh PDF
2008
Title
A consultation on the CPS Violence against Women Strategy and Action Plans - summary of responses
Description
This is a summary of the responses to the Crown Prosecution Service consultation on its draft Violence against Women (VAW) Strategy and Action Plans. It covers the background to the consultation, a summary of the responses to the consultation, a summary of the responses to the specific questions raised in the consultation, and initial conclusions and the next steps following this consultation.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Consultation - Summary of responses
Consultation - Summary of responses - PDF
Title
Report evaluating the national domestic violence training programme 2005-2008
Description
The report concludes that domestic violence training continue to be delivered within the organisation and that external partners are invited to participate in that training. Published November 2008.
Format
Available online in this section
Evaluation of the national domestic violence training programme 2005-2008
Title
CPS Violence against Women crime report 2007-2008
Description
This is the first Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) annual Violence against Women performance report. This report covers a range of Violence against Women (VAW) strands for 2007 - 08: domestic violence; forced marriage; so-called 'honour' crimes; female genital mutilation; rape and sexual offences; human trafficking; prostitution; child abuse; and pornography.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
CPS Violence against Women crime report 2007-2008 - English PDF
CPS Violence against Women crime report 2007-2008 - Welsh PDF
2007
Title
A Review of Specialist Domestic Violence Court systems (SDVCs)
Description
A 2007 review undertaken of the first tranche of 23 Specialist Domestic Violence Courts, which were selected in 2005/06, indicating the success of these system in improving both prosecution of domestic violence cases and safety of victims.
Format
Available online in this section
A Review of Specialist Domestic Violence Court systems (SDVCs)
2006
Title
Domestic violence monitoring snapshot
Description
Annual snapshot monitoring of our performance in prosecuting domestic violence cases.
Format
Available online in this section
Domestic violence monitoring snapshot - December 2006 |
2005
Title
Evaluation of Domestic Violence Pilots sites at Caerphilly (Gwent) and Croydon 2004/2005 - Independent Report
Description
Final independent report summarising the finding from these Domestic Violence pilots.
Additional Notes
Available as Adobe Acrobat PDF
Evaluation of Domestic Violence Pilots sites at Caerphilly (Gwent) and Croydon 2004/2005 - Independent Report - PDF
Instrument 1 - Confidential Client Assessment Form - PDF
Instrument 2 - Domestic Violence Pilot Project Evaluation Form (CPS form) - PDF
Appendix 6 (as detailed in the Report) - List of Tables - PDF
Title
Evaluation of Domestic Violence Pilot Sites at Gwent and Croydon 2004/05
Description
Independent Interim Report summarising the evidence and issues emerging from the first phase of this evaluation (to June 2004).
Additional Notes
Available as Adobe Acrobat PDF
Evaluation of Domestic Violence Pilot Sites at Gwent and Croydon 2004/05 - PDF
Title
Domestic violence monitoring snapshot
Description
Annual snapshot monitoring of our performance in prosecuting domestic violence cases.
Format
Available online in this section
Domestic violence monitoring snapshot - December 2005 |
2004
Title
Evaluation of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts/Fast Track Systems
Description
A CPS/DCA report evaluating five domestic violence specialist court systems.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF or hard copy from CPS EDU
Evaluation of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts/Fast Track Systems - PDF
Title
Good Practice Guidance
Description
This Good Practice Report is based on the findings from the evaluation of the existing five specialist DV courts and the two pilots, in Caerphilly, Gwent and Croydon, London, which provided evidence of good practice to deliver improved work on domestic violence cases.
Format
Available as Adobe Acrobat PDF
Good Practice Guidance PDF
Title
Good Practice Guidance - Summary
Description
This summary of good practice is based on the findings from the two-year CPS Domestic Violence (DV) Project, which included the evaluation of the existing five UK specialist domestic violence courts and the two pilots.
Format
Available as Adobe Acrobat PDF
Good Practice Guidance - Summary PDF
