Rape and Sexual Violence: Victim Support

Alison Hume, Jayne Kirkham, Dan Aldridge, Dr Marie Tidball, Anna Dixon, and Liz Twist all asked the Government what steps it is taking to support victims of rape and sexual violence. In response, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Davies-Jones, stated that the Government is deeply committed to supporting victims of these crimes. She outlined several measures, including increasing the powers of the Victims' Commissioner, providing free legal advocates to uphold victims' rights, and fast-tracking rape cases to reduce waiting times. Alison Hume raised the issue of the lack of a domestic abuse refuge in Scarborough, her constituency, and asked the Minister to work with her and other stakeholders to address this. The Minister acknowledged the importance of refuge provision and wider community-based support, and said the Ministry of Justice is working with other departments to support local authorities in meeting their statutory duties. Jayne Kirkham expressed concern about the long delays in rape trials, which can cause severe distress for victims. The Minister recognized the problem and said reducing waiting times is a priority, with efforts to fast-track rape cases through the justice system. Dan Aldridge asked about the Government's response to the issue of spiking, a disturbing crime that has affected his constituency of Weston-super-Mare. The Minister stated that spiking with intent to engage in sexual activity is a specific offence, and the Government is committed to introducing a new criminal offence of spiking. Dr Tidball raised the case of her constituent, Claire Throssell, whose children tragically lost their lives at the hands of their abusive father. The Minister acknowledged the importance of protecting children in the family court system and said the Government is considering the findings of the previous review on the presumption of parental involvement. Anna Dixon highlighted the work of Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin in launching initiatives to tackle violence against women and girls, and asked what support the Government can offer. The Minister praised the work of Mayor Brabin and said the Government is supporting collaboration between local authorities and across Whitehall departments. Liz Twist inquired about the progress in introducing free legal advocates for victims of rape, as previously announced by the Lord Chancellor. The Minister stated that she is working to develop this policy and ensure victims can access the support they need to understand and uphold their rights.