MPA scrutiny to improve police investigation and victim care in rape cases

85/01
8 November 2001

The Metropolitan Police Authority is seeking to improve the quality and consistency of services provided by the Metropolitan Police Service to victims of rape crimes by instigating a scrutiny to consider the services it provides focusing on the investigation of rape crimes.

A scrutiny working party comprising five MPA members will invite written evidence from all interested parties and seek oral evidence from relevant groups involved in rape investigation and victim support. The working party will also undertake visits within the MPS and make comparisons with other forces.

Richard Sumray, Chair of the Scrutiny Working Party, said:

"What we aim to do is recommend positive changes to the services victims of rape crimes are offered by the Metropolitan Police Service, with the intention of providing improved and consistent services across London.

"Our scrutiny is in direct support of the 'Policing and Performance Plan 2001/2002' objective to improve victim care and investigation in cases of rape. Rape is an area where it is difficult to assess levels of victim care and where targets for getting offenders to court are currently not being met.

"We shall be looking at the current practices of the MPS and comparing these to best practice from London boroughs, other national and even forces worldwide. We aim to focus primarily on the investigation of rape cases and service provision to victims."

It is proposed to publish the final report, detailing the working party's findings, recommendations and implementation timescale, in April 2002.

Written evidence for this scrutiny is invited from all persons and organisations. Attendance at evidence hearing sessions can also be arranged for interested parties. For information on submitting evidence or attending evidence sessions, please contact the MPA analytical team.

Notes to editors

A scrutiny working party, to enable a more thorough and in depth analysis of specific areas of performance, was agreed by members of the Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring (PSPM) Committee in June 2001. The paper is available on the MPA website (see Internal links).

The 'Policing and Performance Plan 2001/02' is available on the Metropolitan Police website (see Internal links)

Sitting on the Scrutiny Working Party are the following MPA Members:

• Richard Sumray (Chair)
• Cecile Lothian
• Cindy Butts
• Elizabeth Howlett

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