For many survivors of rape and serious sexual abuse, one of the most devastating moments is not just the crime itself, but the moment they are told their case will not go any further. For years, victims across England and Wales have described how cases can be stopped suddenly, often leaving them feeling unheard, dismissed, and powerless within the justice system.
That is why a quiet but significant change now taking shape within the Crown Prosecution Service matters deeply, especially for women and girls in diaspora communities who already face cultural barriers to reporting abuse.
Following positive feedback from an initial pilot launched in the West Midlands in June 2025, the Solicitor General has confirmed that the scheme will now expand to three additional CPS areas. From January, the pilot will begin in CPS North West, followed by CPS Yorkshire and Humberside in early February, and CPS Cymru-Wales in April.
Under the current system, criminal cases can be stopped at any point if a prosecutor decides there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. Victims can ask for a review under the Victims’ Right to Review scheme, but this happens after the decision is made and does not change the outcome. For many survivors, that review can feel like an explanation without justice.
The pilot changes that balance. It gives victims of rape and serious sexual abuse the right for their case to be reviewed by a different prosecutor before any final decision is made. Crucially, this review happens at a point where proceedings can still continue. If the second prosecutor decides there is enough evidence, the case moves forward rather than being permanently closed.
For survivors, this is not just a procedural tweak. It is about dignity, voice, and being taken seriously at a moment that often defines whether they continue engaging with the justice system at all.
This matters profoundly for women from Nigerian, African, Caribbean, and wider migrant backgrounds, where reporting sexual violence can already come with stigma, fear of shame, or pressure to stay silent. Knowing there is an additional safeguard before a case is dropped may give some survivors the confidence to come forward in the first place.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP said rape and sexual assault are abhorrent crimes that cause long-lasting physical and emotional trauma. She stressed that victims who come forward deserve to know their experiences are being heard. Following the positive pilot in the West Midlands, she confirmed she is working with the CPS to roll out the scheme further as part of the government’s commitment to halving violence against women and girls within a decade.
Survivors eligible for the pilot in the West Midlands, including those who did not personally request a review, reported positive experiences. Many said that simply having the option for their case to be reconsidered before a final decision was reached made a meaningful difference to how they felt about the process.
For communities that have historically distrusted formal systems, this sense of being listened to matters. In many diaspora families, survivors already struggle against disbelief, cultural silence, or fear of bringing “shame” to the family. When the state also appears to shut the door quickly, it reinforces the idea that reporting is not worth the emotional cost.
Siobhan Blake, the National CPS Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, acknowledged that while specialist prosecutors usually get decisions right, there are cases that could have continued but were stopped. She said that when this happens, an apology alone can never feel like justice. Survivors involved in the pilot have said that simply having this option gives them reassurance that decisions are being made with care and expertise.
The CPS will use the expansion of the pilot to gather more data and evidence before deciding whether the scheme should be rolled out nationally. This phased approach allows the justice system to learn what genuinely supports victims, rather than imposing reforms that look good on paper but fail in real life.
Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott, who spoke from lived experience, described the expansion as encouraging. She explained that an earlier opportunity for review can make a real difference to survivors, and that feedback from the West Midlands shows this clearly. She said the phased, evidence-led approach reflects a willingness to listen, learn, and change.
At Chijos News, we understand that justice is not just about laws and procedures. It is about trust. For many women in diaspora communities, trust in the system has been fragile, shaped by experiences of racism, immigration fears, cultural misunderstanding, and silence around sexual violence.
This pilot does not fix everything. Survivors will still face long investigations, emotional strain, and difficult court processes. But it represents a shift towards fairness, transparency, and respect at a critical moment when many victims previously felt shut out.
For survivors watching from outside the West Midlands, North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, or Wales, this expansion also sends a wider signal. The justice system is being challenged to listen more closely, to pause before closing doors, and to recognise that for victims of rape and serious sexual abuse, being heard can be the difference between disengagement and the courage to continue.
For diaspora communities, where silence has often been the norm, that shift could be life-changing.