Prosecutors in rape cases will meet complainants face-to-face if defendants plead not guilty, under new plans designed to cut the number of women who withdraw from the trial process.
The number of rape prosecutions in England and Wales dropped by 70 percent between 2017 and 2022 and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is concerned about the number of complainants who stop cooperating before cases come to trial.
The obligation for prosecutors to meet complainants will form part of an updated Victims’ Code, which will be enshrined in the Victims and Prisoners Bill, which began the committee stage in Parliament on Monday.
The code will guarantee CPS staff offer to meet adult victims in person after the defendant enters a not guilty plea in court….