Eligible victims can seek an independent review before a final decision to offer no evidence
The government has confirmed the national rollout of the Early Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) scheme, extending a pilot programme that allows eligible victims of rape and serious sexual offences to request an independent review before a final decision is made to offer no evidence in their case. The scheme will be introduced across every Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Area in England and Wales from 13 July 2026, following a year-long pilot and subsequent regional expansion.
The announcement was made by the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves, who said the rollout marks the next stage in improving the way victims are treated within the criminal justice system.
Under the scheme, victims of rape or serious sexual abuse whose cases are eligible will be able to ask for a different prosecutor to review the decision before it becomes final. If the reviewing prosecutor concludes that the original decision should be changed, the prosecution can continue.
The initiative follows the pilot launched in the West Midlands in June 2025. It was later extended to the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, and Cymru-Wales after receiving positive feedback from victims. According to the government, some participants said they valued having the opportunity for their case to be reconsidered even when they did not ultimately request a review. Two cases also proceeded after a second prosecutor reached a different conclusion during the pilot.
Ellie Reeves said victims who come forward deserve to know their cases will be handled with dignity. She described the nationwide rollout as a significant step that gives eligible victims the opportunity to have their cases reviewed at a critical stage before a final decision is reached.
Siobhan Blake, the CPS National Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, said specialist prosecutors usually reach the correct decision first time but acknowledged that mistakes can occur. She said the pilot had demonstrated the value of offering victims an earlier opportunity for review and noted that some participants reported a positive impact simply from having that option available. She also confirmed that two cases continued as a result of the review process.
Justice campaigner Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott, whose experience helped inform calls for reform, welcomed the national rollout. She said allowing decisions to be reconsidered before they become final gives victims a meaningful opportunity to be heard and helps create a more responsive justice system.
The government said the Early Victims’ Right to Review scheme forms part of its wider strategy to reduce violence against women and girls over the next decade by strengthening victims’ confidence in the criminal justice process.