Member

However, that does not mean that we should not do anything about the position of the victim who has not been told that the prosecution will offer no evidence until it has already done so, by which time it is too late. Practical steps are already being taken to address the circumstances that have prompted the noble Baroness’s concerns. These include enhanced senior oversight for rape and serious sexual offences where the CPS proposes to offer no evidence, and the expansion of a pilot to enable victims to request a second opinion from a different prosecutor before any final decision to offer no evidence is made. These are important steps to help prevent cases such as that of Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott happening again. I have already discussed this issue with the Victims’ Commissioner, with whom I wish to work further on this, and I hope to meet Ms McCrossen-Nethercott and other victims to understand fully what more may be needed to reach the right, balanced solution. For all these reasons, I invite the noble Baroness not to press her amendment.