Prosecutors criticised for ‘poor’ decision-making in rape cases

Prosecutors were today accused of using a flawed approach to rape cases in London as a watchdog warned that innocent suspects are being wrongly charged in an attempt to raise the number of convictions.

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate said a decision to put the same team in charge of rape and domestic abuse cases had led to “poor” decision-making and a drop in standards.

It added that some cases were being handled by non-specialists as a result and cited figures showing the “attrition” rate of rape cases in London which “fail to make it through the criminal justice system” stands at 48 per cent. That is the second worst total in the country.

In a further rebuke, the inspectorate said the creation of a joint rape and domestic abuse unit was contrary to the recommendation of an independent review for the CPS and Scotland Yard last year which described the approach as likely to “exacerbate” problems in handling rape cases.

The findings will increase pressure on Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders, who has made the handling of sex attack investigations a priority, but has been under fire over a series of high-profile cases.