Victims of rape and serious sexual assault in Bury North are set to gain stronger safeguards when prosecutors decide to drop cases, following the expansion of a national review scheme supported by local MP James Frith.
The Victims Right to Review Scheme will be extended to cover more cases involving rape and serious sexual offences, giving victims the right to have a decision reviewed by a different prosecutor before it becomes final.
James Frith, Labour MP for Bury North, met with Solicitor General Ellie Reeves this week to confirm the expansion, which follows positive feedback from an initial pilot.
The scheme will first be rolled out across CPS North West from January. It will then expand to CPS Yorkshire and Humberside in early February, followed by CPS Cymru Wales in April.
The change means more victims whose cases are at risk of being dropped will have an additional safeguard, allowing an independent review to take place before prosecutors reach a final decision.
James Frith, Labour MP for Bury North, said: “Violence against women and girls is a national emergency. That’s why a key part of our government’s approach is to ensure that victims in Bury are given better support, to help rebuild trust in the criminal justice system.”.
“This government is taking action on keeping women and girls safe, whether it’s through supporting victims, apprehending abusers or stopping violence before it starts.”
Siobhan Blake, the CPS National Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, said the possibility that an abuser may never face justice can be deeply distressing for survivors.
She said while specialist prosecutors usually make the right decision first time, having the option of a review can make a meaningful difference for victims when cases are stopped prematurely.
Victims who have already taken part in the pilot have reported that simply knowing a review was available helped them feel more supported.
The expansion forms part of the government’s wider Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, which aims to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.
The strategy focuses on preventing abuse, improving police responses through specialist teams, and strengthening support for victims and survivors.
The announcement follows the introduction of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders across Greater Manchester. Since the pilot began in 2024, more than 500 orders have been issued to help protect victims and survivors.
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