Shadow Solicitor General and Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has welcomed today’s announcement by Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer of a change in the way in which prosecutors deal with cases against women who have withdrawn rape allegations as a result of intimidation.

The move follows extensive coverage of this issue in The Guardian newspaper – notably the ‘Sarah’ case – and campaigning by sexual violence charities. Catherine questioned the Attorney General Dominic Grieve on the issue on 30th November, and held a meeting with Mr Grieve and the Shadow Attorney General Baroness Scotland earlier this week.

Catherine said:

“I am pleased that the Director of Public Prosecutions has made this announcement today and has publicly apologised to Sarah for the appalling failings in the way in which her case was handled.

“However, as Keir Starmer has acknowledged, public apologies offer scant comfort to victims and the most important outcome of Sarah’s case will be to ensure that her treatment within the criminal justice system is never repeated for other victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

“The relevant authorities should be doing everything within their power to support victims to come forward, and then to support them through the prosecution process. I was extremely concerned that ‘Sarah’s case may further deter victims of such terrible crimes from coming forward in future.

“It is a very positive step that the DPP will now become personally involved in the handling of such cases, and I will now be monitoring this situation very closely to ensure that progress is made on this important issue.”

Notes:

1. Catherine McKinnell raised this issue in the House of Commons on 30th November during oral question to the Attorney General:

CATHERINE McKINNELL (Shadow Solicitor General): “The Law Officers will be aware of the case of ‘Sarah’, as covered in recent weeks by The Guardian newspaper. Sarah – not her real name – has recently been released on appeal from Styal prison having served 18 days of an eight-month sentence for falsely retracting rape allegations against her husband following alleged intimidation by him and his family.

“The case raises a number of very serious questions about approaches within the criminal justice system to supporting victims of rape and domestic violence, and there is a risk that it will deter victims from coming forward to report these terrible crimes. Will the Attorney-General meet the Director of Public Prosecutions and me to consider the CPS’s approach to prosecuting women in such cases and to discuss ways that we can better support victims and witnesses of crime?”

Attorney General: “…the comments made by the Lord Chief Justice in the course of that appeal against sentence are being considered carefully by me, and I have no doubt by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and I trust that lessons may be learned from the way in which that case was conducted. However, it is also worth bearing in mind, as I am sure that she would acknowledge, that individuals who bring allegations and then retract them pose particular problems within the criminal justice system, and those cannot necessarily just be ignored. The hon. Lady knows that if she wishes to have a meeting with me, I will always make myself available, and if she wishes to meet the Director of Public Prosecutions, the convention has always been that she should have access to him as well.”

2. Details of the Director of Public Prosecution’s announcement can be read here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/16/keir-starmer-rape-claim-retraction-cases