Why the Right to Review Matters - March ‘26
Two survivors on challenging decisions and securing justice
VICTORIA’S STORY
Reporting sexual offences is a huge decision and a personal commitment to continue if the path is not smooth, as it was for me. There are so many factors that a complainant would not even be aware of; one is the right to have a negative charging decision reviewed if they feel it was incorrect.
In my case, I reported historical sexual abuse I'd suffered when I was a teenager. At 14, I was groomed and at 15 was subjected to sustained sexual abuse by my sister's much older boyfriend. Grooming is a very powerful thing; it distorted my sense of what had happened for a very long time, decades in fact.
When I reported my abuse to the police in 2018, the initial investigation was carried out in a gentle trauma-informed way, while they diligently pieced together evidence to submit my case to the CPS. After several months, I received a devastating phonecall from my OIC. She explained that the CPS had decided not to charge my abuser. She explained that they had said there was no independent evidence of the abuse despite medical evidence. She also told me that I could appeal this decision under the victim's right to review, so that's what I did.
At the first stage, the charging decision was unchanged by the local officer who'd made the original decision. I received more of an explanation this time. They claimed that they accepted the abuse had happened, and that I had been groomed. But they claimed that I was 16 when the worst of the offending happened, despite my medical notes and birth certificate proving otherwise. I progressed it to stage 2. This is where it is reviewed by the appeals team, a separate department within the CPS.
A few months later, I was called for another video interview. The questions were much more targeted, and it was pretty intense. My OIC was given further actions; she asked for clarification on things that pinpointed specific incidents. Between the police and CPS, they meticulously translated those incidents into charges.
In May of 2021, the CPS authorised 7 charges of indecent assault. I received an apology for the distress the initial decisions had caused, and the prosecution began. During the court process, a further charge of indecent assault was added.
My case was still not plain sailing at that point. The trial was delayed 6 times in the nearly three years after the charges. But in March of 2024, my abuser was convicted, unanimously, on all charges. It had been an exhausting, traumatic and painful process, but it was the hope of that outcome that had kept me going, even when I wanted to withdraw.
I feel so incredibly grateful to my OIC for mentioning the victim's right to review. I had no idea it existed, so my abuser wouldn't be in prison today if she hadn't. I feel knowledge of this process should be given to every victim who is able to use it. I also believe the current pilot should be made permanent. My case is a prime example of why it's needed in its current form.
It's a long process, but it's the difference between mistakes being rectified and no justice at all.
DARIA’S* STORY
*Name changed to protect anonymity
I was horrified to learn that the VRR isn't/wasn't available in all cases: Specifically, I am discussing cases in which there are victims of threat, violence and sexual offences.
Image: Model used - pixelation applied for illustrative purposes.
I was horrified to learn that the VRR isn't/wasn't available in all cases: Specifically, I am discussing cases in which there are victims of threat, violence and sexual offences.
In 2021 and 2022, after repeatedly explaining to the Officer in Charge (a Civilian Investigator), that in order for charges to be successfully brought, ALL elements of the offence MUST be met at the pre-charge stage. On numerous occasions, I sent her evidence and information relating to how the evidential burden/threshold of the motivation element of the crime had been met. However, she dismissed this, stating that none of this was needed for a pre-charge decision - This was of course incorrect!
A week prior to the CPS stating an initial decision of No Further Action had been made (based on there being a lack of evidence for the motivation aspect/the perpetrator's “intent to cause distress”), I prepared myself for undertaking a CPS VRR in the very near future.
I was incredibly fortunate the CPS VRR route was available to me. Five months into my appealing the initial decision, the CPS authorised TWO counts of the offence in question: TWO counts where they had - on the lack of understanding of the Officer/The failure of the initial Prosecutor to ask for more information of the police (the latter of which the CPS later apologised for) - previously stated prosecution wouldn't be brought. The Offender in my case was convicted on BOTH counts, the severity of his crimes were reflected in sentences handed down by the Crown Court.
For me, it is unthinkable that the VRR isn't available for ALL crimes involving violence and abuse. Prosecutors and Officers, like the rest of us, may make mistakes/may on occasion fall far below the standards expected of them (as seen in the case of the Officer in my case): victims should never be denied justice as a result of decisions arrived at in haste/without reference to all available material.
Their stories reached the Lords through Baroness Brinton - and we will always be grateful for their willingness to speak up for those who come next.
#RightToBeReviewed #MakeYourselfHeard
There’s still time to support the campaign to make the Victims’ Right to Review a permanent, national right.
You can help by writing to your MP, sharing why this reform matters, and following our campaign for updates and resources at @MYH_ldn - see links below
