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could be routinely sought in investigations, deterring people from engaging in the criminal justice system, one of the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) own prosecutors has claimed.
Speaking to i on the condition of anonymity, the prosecutor said the CPS was being “disingenuous” over the real effect of amending its .
Pre-trial therapy is a limited form of counselling provided to survivors that involves them attending sessions but agreeing not to talk about facts directly related to their case.
There is a possibility that are then requested by police, before falling into the hands of the defence, who can use them to attempt to diminish the victim’s credibility. This leaves victims facing a decision between prioritising their mental health by talking through their trauma, and risking their own information being used against them.
Cases are frequently dropped if victims do not agree to their information being shared with investigators, warned Dame Vera Baird, who recently stepped down as the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales.
In May, the CPS updated its guidance to acknowledge concerns that accessing counselling could damage the prosecution’s case but said victims of rape and other crimes should not delay therapy.
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