Bath MP calls for better treatment of rape victims

29 December 2021

Wera Hobhouse, the MP for Bath, questioned the government minister, asking him to commit to changes to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) governance. This follows from a recent report by the Victims Commissioner outlining a horrific rate of rape cases getting to trial - just 1%.

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse called on the minister to cease the practice whereby rape victims have their mental health records “pulled apart”, thereby making them feel like suspects. This change, as supported by the End Violence Against Women Coalition would help build trust between police and victims and make sure that the attrition rate (the number of victims who drop out of the system) falls.

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse said:

“It is simply not acceptable that only 1% of rape cases get to trial. Victims deserve better than this. Victims need to be able to trust that their case will be taken seriously and that they will be treated with empathy. For too long, rape cases have been dismissed and victims have been blamed. This is all part of the wider culture of misogyny that has infected society.

“I’m hopeful that the new approach being trialed with Avon and Somerset Police will achieve results so that we can start to rebuild trust in the tarnished reputation of our criminal justice system. We cannot continue to fail rape victims.”