Vera Baird DBE KC

Chair Criminal Cases Review Commission. Member Women’s Justice Bd.
Ex Victims’ Commissioner, Solicitor Gen & PCC. Fellow St Hilda’s Oxford. Writer. Labour Party

Tag: CPS

  • BAIRD SLAMS CPS

    Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC responds to reports that Prosecutors have been urged to ditch “weak” rape cases to improve figures.

    Dame Vera Baird said “This approach is completely hostile to the principle of access to justice. The point of the CPS is to bring fair prosecutions, not to deliberately avoid bringing them and to abandon hundreds of victims, in order to make their conviction rate look better.

    I would be very surprised if there isn’t a judicial review here in the public interest.

    If the CPS think that this will make them look better to the public they need to think again. How appalling to put the appearance of their organisation before their obligations to the public.

    The CPS have reportedly been told to take “350 cases out of the system in order to increase their conviction rate 61%“. Before this diktat, these 350 cases seemingly would have passed the necessary test to be prosecuted (a greater than 50% likelihood of conviction by a jury). It seems that rape cases will now require a 60%, 70% or 80% likelihood of conviction – but only rape cases.

    The CPS knows that myths about woman and rape are rife amongst jurors as with the public at large. Their job is to use insight and skill to overcome these obstacles to justice. The reaction from some CPS staff shows their own shock at being told to stop trying and only prosecute rock solid certainties.

    Cases involving younger or more vulnerable complainants or those with mental health issues will all be in the “too difficult category” as set out by Messrs McGill and More. There couldn’t be a clearer signal to predatory criminals that if they abuse those victims the state will leave them alone. And there couldn’t be a more damaging sign of support for the rape myths that are still believed in our society.

    Guardian Article. Prosecutors have been urged to ditch “weak” rape cases to improve figures.

  • Vera Baird addressing national conference on the Investigation and Prosecution of Rape


    Northumbria’s Police & Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird QC, will be addressing a national conference in London on Wednesday 28th January, which will be focusing on the Investigation and Prosecution of Rape.


    The conference, which is being hosted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), will hear from experts in this field, including Director of Public Prosecution, Alison Saunders, Professor Liz Kelly from London Metropolitan University and Vera Baird QC.


    Mrs Baird will be speaking about the innovative Court Observers Panel that she has established in Northumbria. The panel, which began its work this month, will now be present at all adult rape trials at Newcastle Crown Court.  
    It is made up of people with relevant expertise on the topic, drawn from the voluntary and community sectors, including lawyers, and then given special training to take part.


    The panel will report back to Mrs Baird in her role as Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner, particularly noting the unacceptable appearance of any myths and stereotypes in court, such as the suggestion that victims have in some way contributed to what has happened; for instance, by the way they have dressed.


    The Court Observers Panel will also consider whether the complainant\’s needs are being properly considered in each case, whether the impact of sexual abuse on the ability to testify is being properly taken into account during proceedings and any sense of the victim being tried rather than the defendant.


    It will work as part of a new system in tandem with the Rape Scrutiny Panel, which will be similarly drawn from the voluntary and community sectors. The Rape Scrutiny Panel also begins work this month and will examine case files where it has been judged that no crime has been committed, or which were said not to have achieved the required threshold of evidence to be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service. They will also examine failed prosecutions, to look for ways to improve the process for future occasions.  


    Vera Baird said: “Having to give evidence in a rape trial is very traumatic, and it is important that the courts appreciate this and ensure that the needs of the victim are always considered and that inappropriate questions are myths are dealt with.  

    “I\’m delighted to have the opportunity to share Northumbria’s innovative panel experiences at the CPS.  I’m hopeful that delegates present will want to see similar panels in their communities.


    “I want these innovations to increase confidence in the process, encouraging victims and witnesses to report incidents, whilst assuring defendants that any improvements in the system will protect them too.”