STORY
Rape and sexual assault victims across England and Wales will be able to ask for cases to be reviewed before prosecutors make a final decision to offer no evidence. The national rollout follows a Crown Prosecution Service pilot of the Early Victims’ Right to Review scheme.
The change is designed to give eligible victims the opportunity to challenge a proposed decision before a case is formally stopped. The Government said feedback from the pilot had shown that victims valued the chance to have decisions reconsidered at an earlier stage.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves said the rollout was a landmark moment for victims of rape and serious sexual offences. The Government said the measure formed part of its wider strategy on violence against women and girls, including its commitment to halve such violence within a decade.