The scheme will now be rolled out in CPS North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, and Cyrmu-Wales
The UK Crown Prosecution Service has expanded the Victims’ Right to Review scheme to cover three other CPS areas, reported the Law Society Gazette.
The scheme will now extend to CPS North West effective this month, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside in early February, and CPS Cyrmu-Wales in April. The pilot was rolled out in the West Midlands in June 2025 and met with positive feedback.
The scheme grants complainants of rape or serious sexual abuse the right to have a different prosecutor review their case before final decisions are made on whether there is a realistic prospect of conviction. A case will progress if a prosecutor deems the existing evidence accurate.
At present, criminal cases may be dropped any time should a prosecutor determine that the prospect of conviction is no longer realistic.
The government said in a statement published by the Gazette that the expansion would “help to enhance confidence in the justice system by giving victims more control over their case, getting them the answers they deserve and putting perpetrators behind bars.”
The CPS said it intended to glean further data on the scheme’s effectiveness through the expansion before progressing to national implementation.
“Victims deserve absolute confidence that every decision is made with care and expertise. Our specialist prosecutors usually get it right first time, but when we don’t — and a case that could have continued is stopped — an apology alone can never feel like justice. Victims who have taken part so far have told us that simply having this option makes a positive difference,” said Siobhan Blake, national CPS lead for rape and serious sexual offences, in a statement published by the Gazette. “I’m pleased we are now expanding the pilot so we can gather the evidence we need to understand the full impact and how best to support victims.”
