Just under a third of prosecutorial decisions met the Test for Prosecution
The Public Prosecution Service has reported a significant reduction in the time taken to reach decisions in Crown Court cases involving sexual offences, as it published its annual statistical bulletin for 2024/25.
The report, released on Thursday, sets out key trends in caseloads, prosecutorial decisions and court outcomes for sexual offences between April 2024 and March 2025. It includes a detailed breakdown of rape cases and comparisons with the previous financial year.
Head of the PPS Serious Crime Unit, Catherine Kierans, said the figures highlight both improvements in the system and the ongoing challenges faced by victims and prosecutors.
She said: “I want to recognise the bravery of all victims of sexual offending. Anyone can be a victim, and these offences can have a devastating and long-term impact on them and their families. It takes great courage to report these crimes, and every victim deserves to be listened to and treated with respect. We work closely with our criminal justice partners, including police, to ensure this happens.”
Ms Kierans said the PPS remained committed to handling cases “fairly, effectively and compassionately”, but noted that sexual offence prosecutions continued to be complex, often lengthy and less likely to result in early guilty pleas.
According to the bulletin, the median time taken to issue prosecution decisions in Crown Court cases fell sharply to 133 days, down from 212 days the previous year and from almost 300 days in 2020/21. Ms Kierans said closer working with police, early triage of files and streamlined processes were helping to speed up decision-making.
Overall, the PPS received 1,613 files involving a sexual offence during the year, a slight decrease on 2023/24. Of these, 616 related to rape, down 3 per cent. In total, 1,673 suspects were linked to the files submitted.
Just under a third of prosecutorial decisions (31.6 per cent) met the Test for Prosecution, resulting in 526 prosecutions or diversions. The PPS said that in the 1,141 cases where prosecution was not directed, 99 per cent failed to meet the evidential test.
Conviction rates in both the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court remained broadly stable. In the Crown Court, 74.1 per cent of the 243 defendants were convicted of at least one offence. Of the 75 defendants prosecuted for rape, half were convicted of at least one offence, with 26.7 per cent convicted of rape.
Ms Kierans said the PPS was committed to being as open as possible about its handling of sexual offence cases and pointed to its Sexual Offences Policy, which explains the decision-making process and addresses common myths around consent.
But she said lasting progress required change across the wider justice system and society more broadly.
“Sexual violence is not just an issue for the criminal justice system – it is a societal challenge that cuts across every sector, including education and healthcare, and all of society must work together to tackle it,” she said.
“To anyone who has experienced a sexual offence: you are not to blame. Responsibility lies solely with the perpetrator. Please report your experience to the police – they have specialist officers who can help.
“We are committed to carefully considering every case referred to us by police. We make decisions carefully, fairly and strictly in line with our legal Test for Prosecution. We will use all available measures to make your experience of the justice process, including giving evidence in court, as supportive and comfortable as possible. Our Victim and Witness Care Unit is a dedicated point of contact and can put you in touch with organisations offering specialist emotional and practical support for further help.”
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
#Latest #figures #show #fall #decision #times #sexual #offences #cases
