The Stern Review
About the review
Baroness Vivien Stern CBE is leading an
independent review into the way rape complaints are handled by
public authorities in England and Wales. The review will examine
the whole process of a rape complaint from the moment a rape is
first disclosed until the court has reached a verdict.
Baroness Stern, who was asked to undertake the
review by the Government, will focus on how to ensure the key
agencies involved in rape complaints, such as the police, local
authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service, the health service and
third sector organisations work more effectively together to
improve rape complainants’ treatment. The terms of reference can be
found here
.
She will hear evidence from front line officers,
a wide range of service providers, and third sector bodies; take
account of the Victim’s Champions recent focus groups, and Women’s
National Commission’s Victim consultations for the Violence Against
Women and Girls Strategy; and look closely at the attitude of
professionals towards the crime of rape and those whose lives it
has impacted.
Baroness Stern commenced the review in September 2009 and it
will report in early March 2010. The recommendations from the
review will focus on:
- How to ensure better treatment of rape complainants
- How to encourage more victims to report rape in the first
place
- How to ensure more cases progress further through the criminal
justice system
- How to build confidence in the way complaints are handled
The results of the review will be shared in the New Year with
the Minister for Women and Equality, the Home Secretary, the
Solicitor General, and the Minister with responsibility for victims
at the Ministry of Justice.
A number of pieces of work will inform the review,
including:
- The work that has been done by SaraPayne, Victims Champion,
focused on the experience of rape victims. Her work will inform the
Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy due to be published by
the end of the year.
-
The Alberti Taskforce: The work that is being done by Professor
George Alberti, who is leading a Department of Health taskforce on
the Health Aspects of Violence Against Women and Girls.
- Review of previous research and literature
in this area
- Regional Visits: A series of visits around
the UK where Baroness Stern will be meeting professionals involved
in all aspects of rape complaints
- Baroness Stern is also inviting organisations and members of
the public to submit their own evidence via this
website. Find
out how to have your say.
For more information on Baroness Stern, visit the About Baroness
Stern section of this site.