West Midlands Police’s Low Approval Rate for Victim Review Requests Criticized

A woman who experienced sexual assault has stated that the inadequate handling of requests for investigation reviews by West Midlands Police gives the impression that the force is “laughing” at the established process. New data indicates that West Midlands Police declines more than 90% of Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) applications. This percentage represents the lowest approval rate among the 30 police forces that provided information in response to a BBC Freedom of Information (FOI) request. West Midlands Police commented that it is presently conducting an assessment of the scheme with the aim of delivering the most effective service to victims. Statistics reveal that out of 1,013 requests submitted since 2015, West Midlands Police re-examined only 87 cases, which constitutes 8.9%. In contrast, the national average stood at 59%, with South Yorkshire recording the highest rate at over 92%. The Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) mechanism, established in 2013, allows crime victims to request a police review of a decision not to press charges, provided a suspect has undergone an interview under caution. Should a request be granted, a senior officer, who had no prior involvement in the investigation, examines the evidence and determines the appropriate course of action, which may include initiating charges. Alexandra Whitelaw, a resident of Walsall who has chosen to forgo her right to anonymity, filed a VRR in 2013 following an assault and again in 2020 after a distinct inquiry into a historical incident. Her entitlement to a review was denied in both instances. “You’re going through the worst thing you’ve ever gone through and you’re trying to fight to get this crime taken seriously and the police and the CPS seem to just reject that,” she stated. “It’s like your crime isn’t valid. It’s so quick, it just feels like they haven’t tried.” She proposed that the low rate of approved reviews constituted a “massive failing” for her community and had adversely affected the public’s relationship with the police. “It’s heartbreaking, honestly it destroyed me,” she commented. She added, “We’re poor around here. We struggle really hard. And we can’t even rely on the police to protect us. Even if we go through the process, we do everything we’re supposed to… It’s basically laughed at.” Alex Mayes, an employee of the charity Victim Support, noted that while the scheme has proven beneficial for numerous crime victims, a “big discrepancy” exists among different police forces. “We’re quite concerned that there is such a big postcode lottery for victims across the country,” he remarked. He further stated, “It may also be to do with the quality of information that has been given to victims about a review, because it’s quite limited in scope.” Mr. Mayes emphasized the necessity for uniformity to guarantee that outcomes are not influenced by victims’ geographical location. “There probably needs to be a bit of review to whether this right should be broadened so as to include more cases,” he appended. “We want it to be looked at so it can include, possibly, where the police have closed an investigation,” he concluded. The Met Police and West Yorkshire Police, both of which received a higher volume of requests than West Midlands Police, approved 55% and 45% of their respective applications. It is important not to confuse the police-operated scheme with the one managed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which grants victims the right to contest prosecutors’ charging decisions in the most severe criminal cases. Even when cases undergo review, there is no assurance that the initial decision not to charge a suspect will be overturned, and even if it is, the process is not consistently straightforward, as observed by the BBC’s Lucy Manning. In a statement to the BBC, West Midlands Police indicated that it is presently conducting a review of the VRR process to guarantee optimal service for victims and to handle all reviews promptly and suitably. Chief Superintendent Andy Parsons, who leads Criminal Justice Services, stated: “Last year, we brought charges against people on more than 13,000 occasions and we are committed to getting the best outcome for victims from the moment they get in touch with us.” “We pursue all the evidence to ensure we can present the best possible case to the Crown Prosecution Service, which makes many of the decisions around charging.” “We understand that when we tell victims that we believe we do not have enough evidence to charge, it can be upsetting and frustrating.” “That’s why they have the option to get that decision reviewed by a senior officer, and where appropriate, the charging decision can be changed.” “It’s only right that our decisions are scrutinised and reviewed, and we are always looking at ways of improving that process to continue to deliver the best service for the public.” Simon Foster, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, expressed his expectation that the force would “carefully, conscientiously and diligently consider all requests for a Victims Right to Review”. 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