Atkins: This is ‘just the start’ on tackling UK rape cases

In a response to an urgent question, justice minister Victoria Atkins told the House of Commons that data since the peak of rape cases not being taken forward to justice in June is “encouraging”. 

However, Atkins insisted that this is “just the start” with the introduction of eights levers to “drive change”.

When faced with criticism from shadow minister Ellie Reeves that the government were “way off target”, Atkins rejected the claim, telling Reeves that she was not just criticising the government but also the police, the CPS and the courts, “who are operationally independent”.