Prosecutors were today told to improve their treatment of domestic abuse victims and to ensure that more perpetrators are brought to justice, as a watchdog warned of failings in the way that some cases are currently handled.
Andrew Cayley, chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service, said that although there was some “excellent work” by lawyers and staff, improvements were needed in the care given to victims and in preparing cases for court.
He said the changes required included better “support, protection and engagement with victims” and that prosecutors also needed more training to improve their understanding “of the impact of trauma on victims”.
In a report published today, he added that the provision of independent domestic abuse advisers — who are meant to support victims through the criminal process — was “a lottery” with “overwhelming demands” in some areas on the charities providing the service.
He also warned that victims’ personal statements, which are meant to help courts learn about the impact of a crime, are sometimes not being collected or updated at the time of sentencing.
Other problems include at times not doing enough to consider whether cases in which victims pull out — sometimes from fear — can still be pursued as “evidence-led” prosecutions based on other proof that abuse had been inflicted.
Mr Cayley said that an “estimated 2.4 million adults suffered from domestic abuse” in the most recent year for which statistics were available.
He added: “Victims and survivors of domestic abuse deserve better. There is still much to be done to make sure victims are properly supported in domestic abuse cases.”
Kate Brown, the CPS lead for domestic abuse, said that prosecutors were trying to work closely with police to improve the way that cases and victims were dealt with and were determined to improve further.
She said: “We recognise there is more work to be done and want to give victims confidence that we’re committed to securing justice in as many cases as we can.”
