Fewer than half of CPS letters to rape victims show empathy

ONLY half of letters from the CPS to rape victims were empathetic, the service watchdog has found with staff accused of “blaming” victims in their correspondence.

Inspectors found that fewer than one in four letters sent to victims were of a satisfactory standard, an improvement of 0.1 per cent following a similarly critical report into the CPS carried out two years ago.

Work by the HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate showed that only 47.1 per cent of letters to victims of rape and s erious s exual assault were sufficiently empathetic, with only 18.6 per cent of letters being “the right quality”.

Letters to victims included errors such as failing to offer an apology for late decisions, as well as using “victimblaming language”.

Fay Maxted, the chief executive of The Survivors Trust, said: “Victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault rightly deserve to be treated with compassion and empathy.

“The fact that the vast majority of reported cases end in no further action is already an indictment of our criminal justice system. For the very letters that convey this decision to then add further distress is beyond unacceptable.”

The report published today showed that staff made errors including writing the wrong date of a crime, as well as that the victim rather than a witness had withdrawn their support from the investigation. Ellie Reeves, the shadow solicitor general, said “Communication with survivors of rape and domestic abuse is essential to maintain confidence in the criminal justice system.

“But this report shows a stark deterioration and a lack of government action over the last two years.

“The fact that so few case letters are of the right quality, and so many are lacking in empathy, is a stark reminder that the Conservatives are letting down victims.

The CPS said it was “disappointed” that the changes it made since the last inspection have not delivered improvements and that it is conducting a review into how staff communicate with victims.

“We know that the radical change we want to bring about will take time, but we are fully determined to make progress on this most important issue,” a spokesman added.