The review will also say that judges should prevent the public from attending trials more often to ease the pressure on victimsRape victims will be allowed to give evidence on video before a trial and should have their phones returned by police within 24 hours to help improve plummeting conviction rates, under a government review to be published next month. Charging rates in England and Wales have fallen in five years from 8.3 per cent of reported offences to 1.5 per cent. The review will also say that judges should prevent the public from attending trials more often to ease the pressure on victims giving evidence. SponsoredThe Daily Telegraph reported that under the proposals victims would be able to pre-record evidence including cross-examinations, which would then be played during a court case. The proportion of victims withdrawing from prosecutions has doubled from 20 per cent

Source: The Times May 17, 2021 08:03 UTC