Rape (Conviction Rates)

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Attorney-General – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 12 February 2013.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Dominic Grieve Dominic Grieve The Attorney-General 11:30, 12 February 2013

I agree with my right hon. Friend. Taking the second matter first, let me say that the CPS’s guidelines are crystal clear that a victim or witness giving evidence should not be prevented from accessing the care or counselling they might require. Indeed, I believe that Mrs Andrade was specifically referred to the possibility of counselling when it was seen that she was distressed prior to the case taking place. On the issues in court, protocols are in place to try to familiarise people with the court process and to ensure that the trauma of giving evidence in court is lessened, including of course the possibility of special measures. In Mrs Andrade’s case, however, she made it clear that she did not wish special measures to be introduced.